TOKYO: NHK reported on Saturday that in the southern region of Japan, the initial case of the highly pathogenic H5-type avian flu this season was identified at a poultry farm.
NHK reported that approximately 40,000 birds will be culled by the local government in Saga prefecture, according to unnamed agriculture ministry officials. Ministry representatives were unavailable for immediate comment outside of regular business hours.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is set to gather relevant Cabinet members for discussions aimed at preventing the virus from spreading, NHK added.
The virus was detected following genetic testing subsequent to the discovery of deceased poultry birds on the farm last Friday, as per the report.
In recent years, highly pathogenic avian influenza has spread globally, resulting in the culling of hundreds of millions of birds. Japan experienced a record cull of 17.7 million poultry birds last season, prompting heightened vigilance from authorities.
