Japan Battles Bird Flu Outbreak: 19th Outbreak of the Season
Overview
The bird flu virus has struck again in Japan, with the latest outbreak reported at a farm in the northern Iwate region. This is the 19th bird flu outbreak of the season, prompting swift action from authorities to contain the spread of the virus.
Iwate Farm Hit
The latest farm reported an increase in deaths of fowl, and test results confirmed that bird flu was the cause. In response, the regional Iwate government has begun culling 50,000 chickens at the affected farm. Additionally, the Iwate government has banned the movement of 170,000 birds kept at two other farms within a 3km radius.
Wider Restrictions Imposed
Some 3.8 million birds kept within a 10km radius of the infected farm are being restricted from leaving their enclosures for now. This is to prevent the spread of the virus and to ensure public health and safety.
Other Outbreaks Reported
On Thursday, another farm in Iwate and a firm in the central Aichi region were also hit by the virus, with 120,000 and 147,000 birds affected respectively. This brings the total number of birds affected by the outbreak to over 2.5 million.
Background
This is not the first time Japan has battled a bird flu outbreak. On December 29, an outbreak was confirmed at a farm in eastern Ibaraki, resulting in the culling of 1.08 million birds.
Conclusion
The Japanese authorities are taking swift and decisive action to contain the spread of the bird flu virus, with a focus on protecting public health and safety. The measures implemented so far, including culling and restricting movement of birds, are aimed at preventing the virus from spreading further.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How many bird flu outbreaks have been reported in Japan this season?
- 19
- How many birds are affected by the latest outbreak?
- Over 2.5 million
- What measures are being taken to contain the spread of the virus?
- Culling of affected birds, restriction of movement of birds within a 10km radius of the infected farm.