Tokyo: Japan has reported its first case of avian influenza this season, with authorities confirming an outbreak at a poultry farm in Shiraoi, Hokkaido. The discovery has prompted swift containment measures, including the culling of approximately 459,000 chickens and a transport ban affecting 620,000 hens across four nearby farms within a ten-kilometre radius, reports Xinhua, quoting public broadcaster NHK.
The outbreak was detected after farm workers found several dead chickens on Tuesday. Preliminary tests confirmed the presence of the bird flu virus, and subsequent genetic analysis identified the highly pathogenic H5 strain. The Hokkaido prefectural government convened an emergency meeting on Wednesday to coordinate its response.
Experts have warned that outbreaks can occur unpredictably due to migratory birds, which may carry the virus across various routes into Japan. Citizens nationwide have been urged to remain vigilant. Officials aim to complete the culling operation by 30 October and disinfect the affected facilities by 2 November.
Avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, is a zoonotic disease that primarily affects wild birds and poultry. It is caused by virus sub-types such as A(H5N1) and A(H9N2). While human infections are rare and typically result from direct or indirect contact with infected birds, the virus does not easily spread between people.
Since its first recorded human outbreak in Hong Kong in 1997, avian influenza has led to fatalities and infections across 16 countries spanning Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. In 2006, the A(H5N1) strain triggered widespread outbreaks in the Eastern Mediterranean, with confirmed human cases in Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq and Pakistan. The virus has since become endemic among poultry in Egypt.
(Inputs from IANS)
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