Mass Culling of Chickens in Iwate Prefecture Amid Bird Flu Outbreak

Authorities in Japan have initiated the culling of approximately 50,000 chickens following a confirmed outbreak of bird flu at a farm located in the northern Iwate Prefecture. This incident marks the 19th occurrence of avian influenza this season, as reported by the agriculture ministry.

The recent outbreak was identified when the farm began to experience a notable increase in poultry deaths. Subsequent testing confirmed that bird flu was the cause of the fatalities, prompting immediate action by the ministry and the regional government.

In response to the outbreak, the Iwate government has implemented a ban on the movement of 170,000 birds from two additional farms situated within a three-kilometer radius of the infected site. Furthermore, approximately 3.8 million birds located within a 10-kilometer zone surrounding the affected farm will remain confined to their premises for the time being.

Earlier in the week, another farm within Iwate, along with a facility in the central Aichi region, reported similar bird flu incidents. As a result, these farms are in the process of culling 120,000 and 147,000 birds, respectively. Additionally, a previous outbreak was confirmed on December 29 at a farm in eastern Ibaraki, which led to the slaughter of 1.08 million birds.

The ongoing situation highlights the challenges faced by poultry farmers in Japan as they manage the threat of avian influenza. The government is taking stringent measures to contain the spread of the virus and protect public health, as well as the economic interests of the poultry industry.