Tokyo: Japan’s agriculture ministry said Wednesday that genetic testing has confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a farm in Kyoto Prefecture, marking the ninth case of bird flu in the country this season.
According to a statement released by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the outbreak occurred at a poultry farm in Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture, which houses approximately 280,000 egg-laying hens.
Local authorities received a report on Tuesday, and rapid avian influenza tests were conducted on the farm’s chickens that same day, yielding positive results. Genetic testing conducted on Wednesday confirmed infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.
In accordance with relevant guidelines, all chickens at the farm will be culled, incinerated, and buried. In addition, farms within a 3-kilometer radius have been prohibited from transporting chickens and eggs, while other farms within a 3- to 10-kilometer radius are restricted from moving poultry products outside the area.
According to the statement, disinfection efforts around the farm have been intensified to prevent further spread of the virus, and an epidemiological investigation team has been dispatched, with ministry experts to be sent if necessary, Xinhua news agency reported.
The avian influenza season in Japan typically runs from autumn to the following spring. The previous eight outbreaks this season have already resulted in the culling of approximately 2.4 million chickens. The country’s first case was reported on October 22 in Hokkaido, the northernmost prefecture. Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a type of zoonotic (or animal) influenza that affects wild birds and poultry and is caused by the virus subtypes A(H5N1) and A(H9N2). Avian influenza has occasionally infected humans; however, it does not spread easily among people. Most human cases of avian influenza have been linked to direct or indirect contact with infected live or dead poultry.
Japan has confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza in Kyoto
