Some 330,000 chickens to be culled in Kagawa over avian flu

About 3,800 birds died on a farm in just four days. Transporting poultry and eggs within a 10-kilometre radius from point zero is prohibited. The Ministry of Agriculture temporarily bans all exports of eggs and poultry.

Takamatsu (AsiaNews/Agencies) – Local authorities in Kagawa Prefecture (Shikoku Island) began culling some 330,000 chickens today after an outbreak of a highly pathogenic bird flu was confirmed at a chicken farm.

This is Japan’s first major outbreak in nearly three years. In just four days, 3,800 birds died.

As a result, the authorities banned moving all poultry and eggs within a 3-kilometre radius of the infected farm in the city of Mitoyo, and is checking whether other outbreaks have occurred in nearby locations.

Farms within a 10-km radius are also banned from transporting birds and eggs out of the area, a decision that will affect at least 115 farms and a total of 4.6 million chickens.

Japan’s last bout with the avian flu occurred in January 2018, in the same area. The Ministry of Agriculture has suspended all exports of poultry and eggs for now.

• japan
• shikoku
• kagawa
• prefecture
• poultry farm
• eggs
• birds
• avian flu
• outbreak
• culling