October 23, 2024

 

Avian influenza struck poultry farm in Hokkaido, Japan, around 19,000 birds to be culled

 

 

 

Japan confirmed on October 17 the season's first avian influenza outbreak, with authorities identifying around 19,000 birds for culling at a poultry farm on the northernmost main island of Hokkaido and implementing quarantine measures for nearby farms.

 

After the farm in Atsuma, southern Hokkaido, reported its birds were dying from disease the previous day, a genetic test confirmed they were infected with a highly contagious strain of the virus, the Hokkaido government said.

 

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba had instructed government agencies to take swift action to contain the epidemic and ordered them to request business operators to take strict precautionary measures.

 

Authorities restricted the movement of around 710,000 birds at five poultry farms located within a 10-kilometer radius of the farm in question.

 

- Kyodo News