January 13, 2004

Japan Investigates Bird Flu Outbreak

The Japan Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries says it is conducting epidemiological studies to learn more about the bird flu virus and the source of infection.

A bird flu virus has hit a poultry farm in southwestern Japan, killing some 6,000 chickens since the end of December.

Officials say it is the first bird flu epidemic to hit Japan in 79 years.
 

Local government official, Tatsuro Okuhara, says one farm in Yamaguchi Prefecture, 750 kilometres southwest of Tokyo, has been affected by the flu.

According to Okuhara nearly 6,000 chickens died but all 34,640 chickens at the infected farm will be destroyed.

The farm is recalling "tens of thousands of eggs" that have been shipped since December 28.