Authorities in Japan have ordered the slaughter of some 4000 chicken after confirming bird flu virus at a farm in the southwest region of the country. DNA tests confirmed the H5 strain of the virus at a farm in Miyazaki after its owner reported more than 20 sudden deaths among his poultry. “We confirmed at least three of the chicken tested positive for the virus. The Miyazaki government has already started culling all the chicken at the farm,” a ministry official said.

This is first confirmed outbreak of bird flu at a Japanese poultry farm since April. Some wild birds that were found dead in southwestern Japan tested positive last month. Authorities in Miyazaki prefecture, on Kyushu island, have locked down the affected farm and nearby farms, with the movement of chickens banned while the areas are being sanitised.

Source - http://www.blackseagrain.net/