On the 5th, chickens were found dead one after another at a poultry farm in Gojo City, Nara Prefecture, and as a result of genetic testing, "H5 type" avian influenza virus was detected.
The prefecture has decided to dispose of more than 80,000 chickens in this poultry farm.
According to Nara Prefecture and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, on the morning of the 5th, a poultry farm in Gojo City contacted the livestock health center of the prefecture saying "30 chickens are dead."
When the prefecture conducted a genetic test on 13 birds, including 2 dead, "H5 type" avian influenza virus was detected.
It appears to be highly pathogenic and the country will carry out more detailed tests to confirm.
In response to this, the prefecture set up a countermeasures headquarters and decided to dispose of about 83,000 chickens in this poultry farm.
According to the prefecture, there are two farms that raise birds other than chickens within a radius of 3 km where the movement of birds and eggs is prohibited, and within a radius of 10 km where the movement of birds and eggs is prohibited outside the area in principle. There are 10 chicken farms in total.
This is the second case of avian influenza virus detected in chickens at a poultry farm in Nara Prefecture since February 2011, nine years ago.
Kazumi Mizokuri, chief of the Livestock Division of Nara Prefecture, said, "We are asking the poultry farms in the prefecture to thoroughly manage hygiene. We call on consumers not to get infected even if they eat chicken."