Japan announces the discovery of the first outbreak of bird flu this season

Tokyo-Sana

Japan today announced the first outbreak of bird flu this winter, as highly infectious cases were detected on a farm in the country's northeast.

Reuters quoted the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture as saying in a statement on its website that about 143,000 chickens are being culled at the farm located in Yokote City, Akita Prefecture, noting that entry to areas up to ten kilometers from the site is prohibited.

She added that given the current situation in Japan, we do not believe there is any possibility of bird flu being transmitted to humans through eating chicken meat or eggs.

Last winter, Japan experienced the worst season of bird flu on farms, with more than three million chickens culled and a quarter of the country's prefectures affected by the virus.