Kyoto Pref. sees 1st bird flu case in 21 years; 280,000 chickens at egg farm being culled

(Mainichi)

KYOTO — Genetic testing has confirmed a suspected case of the highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm in the Kyoto Prefecture city of Kameoka, the Kyoto Prefectural Government announced Dec. 24.

It is the first such case in the prefecture in 21 years, the last time being in 2004, and the ninth nationwide this year. The prefectural government has begun culling some 280,000 chickens at the farm.

It is expected to take about 10 days to complete culling, disinfection and other quarantine measures. The prefecture will also restrict the movement and shipment of birds at farms within a 10-kilometer radius of the affected site.

(Japanese original by Satoshi Kubo, Kyoto Bureau)