TOKYO, Dec 4 (NNN-NHK) – Japan has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, at a poultry farm in the south-western prefecture of Kagoshima, local media reported, yesterday.
Work to cull some 23,000 egg-laying chickens at the chicken farm in the city of Izumi started yesterday morning, Jiji Press reported, citing the Kagoshima prefectural government.
A local livestock hygiene centre, on Saturday morning, received a report of an increase in dead chickens from the farm, the report said.
Three of 13 dead chickens showed positive results after a simple virus test. Infection was confirmed yesterday in a detailed genetic examination, according to the prefectural government.
This marks the fourth bird flu outbreak, confirmed at a poultry farm in Japan this season, the report said.– NNN-NHK
