Tokyo, Dec. 4: Japan has officially confirmed a 4th outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm located in southwestern Kagoshima Prefecture, local media reported. The Kagoshima prefectural government has begun measures to cull about 23,000 egg-laying hens at the affected farm in Izumi city, with the process set to begin Sunday morning.
The outbreak of avian influenza was confirmed when a local livestock sanitation center received reports of an increasing number of dead chickens from a farm. Subsequent simple virus tests conducted on 13 dead chickens revealed positive results in three cases. More detailed genetic testing conducted on Sunday confirmed the infection, following which a decision was taken to cull the affected birds.
The incident is the fourth outbreak of bird flu in poultry farms in Japan this season, signaling growing concern for the country’s poultry industry and the need for rapid containment measures.
