Tokyo, December 24 (IANS). Japan’s Agriculture Ministry said on Wednesday that genetic testing has confirmed bird flu (highly pathogenic avian influenza) at a poultry farm in Kyoto Prefecture. This is the ninth case of bird flu in the country this season.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, this case has come to light in a poultry farm located in Kameoka city of Kyoto Prefecture. About 2 lakh 80 thousand egg laying hens are reared in this farm.
The local administration got information about this on Tuesday. On the same day, a rapid avian influenza test was conducted on the farm’s chickens, the results of which were positive. After this, genetic testing on Wednesday made it clear that this is a serious type of avian influenza virus.
As per the rules, all the chickens on the farm will be killed and destroyed. Along with this, they will be burnt and buried in the ground. Movement of chickens and eggs from other farms within a radius of three kilometers of the farm has been banned. At the same time, farms located within an area of three to ten kilometers will not be able to send poultry products to outside areas.
Disinfectant spraying around the farm has been intensified to prevent further spread of the virus, Xinhua News Agency reported. A special team has also been sent to investigate the disease. If needed, experts from the ministry will also go to the spot.
Bird flu season in Japan usually lasts from autumn to the following spring. In the eight cases so far this season, about 24 lakh chickens have had to be culled. The first case in the country was reported on October 22 in the northernmost province of Hokkaido.
Bird flu is also called avian influenza. It is a disease that spreads among wild birds and chickens. This virus is caused by subtypes like H5N1 and H9N2. Sometimes this disease can affect humans also, but it does not spread easily from one person to another. In most cases, humans have become ill through contact with infected live or dead chickens.
–IANS
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