Japan reports second outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza this season

China News Service, Tokyo, November 13 (Reporter Zhu Chenxi) Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said on the 13th that a highly pathogenic avian influenza epidemic was confirmed in Chiba Prefecture that day. This is the second highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak in Japan this season.

A communiqué issued by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries stated that after receiving a report from a poultry farm in Asahi City, Chiba Prefecture on the 12th, the relevant departments of Chiba Prefecture immediately sent personnel to the farm to investigate and conducted a simple test for avian influenza, and the result was positive. Genetic testing results completed on the 13th showed that the poultry raised on the farm were infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.

The communiqué stated that in accordance with the guidelines for the prevention of livestock infectious diseases related to avian influenza, it was decided to cull, burn and bury about 40,000 laying hens raised on this farm. At the same time, the area within a radius of 3 kilometers around the farm is designated as a "movement restricted area" to restrict the movement of poultry carcasses and items that may cause the spread of pathogens; the surrounding radius of 3 to 10 kilometers is designated as a "removal restricted area" to restrict the movement of poultry and egg products from farms in this area.

The bird flu epidemic season in Japan is from autumn and winter to the following spring every year. On the 12th, Japan's first bird flu epidemic of the season was confirmed in Kameoka City, Kyoto Prefecture.