Japan reports first bird flu outbreak of season, culling 143,000 chickens

Tokyo, Nov. 10 (BNA): Japan has detected the first outbreak of bird flu for the winter season of 2021, with the confirmation of a case of “highly pathogenic avian influenza” on a poultry farm in the country’s northeast, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. He said on Wednesday.

In a statement on its website, the ministry said that about 143,000 chickens laying eggs are being exterminated on a farm in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, adding that restricted areas have been established up to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the site. .

“Given the current situation in Japan, we do not believe there is any possibility of bird flu being transmitted to humans through eating chicken meat or eggs,” the ministry said.

But the increase in the number of people infected with bird flu in China this year is turning into a concern among epidemiologists, especially as the world slowly recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic.

China reported 21 human infections of the H5N6 subtype of bird flu to the World Health Organization in 2021, compared to just five cases last year, killing six and many others in critical condition, China said.

Bird flu outbreaks have also been reported in recent days and weeks in Europe with farms in Poland the latest sites of infection, totaling 650,000 chickens.

Last winter, Japan experienced its worst farm winter flu season to date, with more than 3 million chickens culled and a quarter of the country’s prefectures affected.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Japan has an egg flock of about 185 million chickens and the number of broilers is 138 million.

MI