Japan Hit by Bird Flu: 50,000 Chickens Culled, Movement Bans Enforced

TDT | Manama
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Japanese authorities have begun culling 50,000 chickens following a bird flu outbreak at a farm in the northern Iwate region, marking the 19th such outbreak this season, according to the agriculture ministry.

The latest outbreak was confirmed after reports of increased fowl deaths at the farm, with tests on Sunday identifying bird flu as the cause. In response, the regional government has restricted the movement of 170,000 birds at nearby farms within a 3-kilometer (1.86-mile) radius. Additionally, approximately 3.8 million birds within a 10-kilometer zone have been ordered to remain confined.

This comes days after two other outbreaks were reported—one in Iwate and another in the central Aichi region—prompting the culling of 120,000 and 147,000 birds, respectively. In a larger incident on December 29, over 1.08 million birds were culled following an outbreak at a farm in eastern Ibaraki.

Japan is grappling with an escalating bird flu crisis, with strict containment measures being implemented to curb the spread of the highly contagious virus. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, urging vigilance in areas at high risk.