Slaughter of some 42,000 chickens was ordered by Japan on Monday, after officials confirmed the country's second bird flu outbreak in less than a month.
DNA tests confirmed the H5 strain of the virus at a farm in Miyazaki prefecture in the country's southwest after its owner reported Sunday that several chickens had suddenly died, the local government said.
Bird Flu
Bird flu (avian influenza/avian flu) is a disease caused by an influenza virus (H5N1) that primarily affects birds but can infect humans also.
Advertisement
Officials began the slaughter Monday and asked farms within a 10 kilometre (62 miles) radius not to move their poultry outside of that geographic area.
The case comes about two weeks after the government ordered the slaughter of some 4,000 chickens at another poultry farm in Miyazaki -- the first confirmed outbreak of bird flu at a Japanese poultry farm since April.
![A New Variant of Bird Flu Virus Causes Serious Infection]( "A New Variant of Bird Flu Virus Causes Serious Infection")
A newly detected variant of bird flu virus has been associated with serious lung infection, ultimately resulting in death.
Local authorities locked down that farm and others nearby, with the movement of chickens banned while the area was being sanitized.
Officials also set up stations to disinfect vehicles travelling on major roads near the affected farm to prevent the virus from spreading.
It is uncertain whether there is a link between the first outbreak and the second, a farm ministry official said Monday, adding that further testing of the strain would be conducted at a government-backed research institute.
The second poultry farm is about 100 kilometres away from the site that was affected earlier this month.
Japan's agriculture ministry regularly warns farmers about the risk of infection, citing the continued spread of the disease in Asia, including in neighbouring South Korea.
Source: AFP
A New Variant of Bird Flu Virus Causes Serious Infection
A newly detected variant of bird flu virus has been associated with serious lung infection, ultimately resulting in death.
Advertisement
Local authorities locked down that farm and others nearby, with the movement of chickens banned while the area was being sanitized.
Officials also set up stations to disinfect vehicles travelling on major roads near the affected farm to prevent the virus from spreading.
It is uncertain whether there is a link between the first outbreak and the second, a farm ministry official said Monday, adding that further testing of the strain would be conducted at a government-backed research institute.
The second poultry farm is about 100 kilometres away from the site that was affected earlier this month.
Japan's agriculture ministry regularly warns farmers about the risk of infection, citing the continued spread of the disease in Asia, including in neighbouring South Korea.
Source: AFP
A Bird's Eye View of The Bird Flu Scare
It might not be the plague yet, but the bird or avian flu scare has acquired this nasty habit of sending a shiver down the spine.
Advertisement
 Quiz on FluInfluenza (or rather, the flu) is a cold weather infectious condition that affects the young and old alike. Though most reported cases are mild, the flu can sometimes cause severe and life-threatening complications in both children and adults, thanks to wrong medications and improper vaccinations. Learn more about the disease from our Flu Quiz and guard yourself and your family from a poss | Advertisement
|
Advertisement
Recommended Reading
Latest Bird Flu News
Researchers monitored the continuing avian flu pandemic to gauge its evolving risk to both humans and birds.
Bird flu in Brazil: Authorities are watching if the bird flu virus H5N1 is mutating into a form which can spread amongst humans.
Bird flu outbreak: New mutation in avian influenza virus (H5N1) could be the next human pandemic, warn health experts.
Exposure to live or dead poultry contaminated with avian influenza A virus results in the increase of human cases of avian influenza infection.
In environments where avian influenza virus may be present, the WHO advises regular hand washing and good food safety and food hygiene practices.