Bird Flu Outbreak in Japan: Authorities Culls 14,000 Birds in Southern Japan After Avian Flu Outbreak
About 14,000 birds have been culled in the southern Japan after an avian influenza outbreak was confirmed, local authorities said on Monday.
Tokyo, February 12: About 14,000 birds have been culled in the southern Japan after an avian influenza outbreak was confirmed, local authorities said on Monday. The bird flu has been confirmed on a poultry farm in the Minamisatsuma City of Kagoshima, according to the prefectural government, adding that the culling operations for it and nearby farms under the same management were completed within a short span, Xinhua news agency reported. Bird Flu Outbreak in Brazil: Avian Influenza Kills Nearly 1,000 Seals and Sea Lions in Rio Grande do Sul
Burial of the culled birds and disinfection of the poultry houses are expected to conclude within the next few days, and the national authorities are expected to determine whether the virus is highly pathogenic. To prevent further spread of the infection, the prefecture has imposed restrictions on the movement of approximately 363,000 chickens and quails being raised at 15 farms within a radius of 3 km to 10 km from the affected area. Bird Flu Outbreak: WHO Confirms Another Case of Avian Influenza H5N1 Virus in Chinese Woman
Following genetic testing which confirmed the virus, the prefectural authorities initiated the culling process on Sunday. The case marks the ninth avian influenza outbreak in the country this season. The bird flu season in Japan typically begins in October each year. In the last season, Japan saw a record 84 outbreaks of highly pathogenic bird flu at farms in 26 of the country's 47 prefectures, with a record 17.71 million birds culled, leading to an egg shortage and price increases.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 12, 2024 03:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).