February 23, 2005

Japanese poultry farm detects bird flu

Bird flu virus has been detected in some of the 200 flies captured around a Kyoto Prefecture poultry farm in Japan after a bird flu outbreak at the farm last February, the country¡¯s National Institute of Infectious Disease said.

It is the first time the virus has been found in flies, the institute said.

It is unclear whether humans can be infected with the virus through flies. The institute is examining the possibility, an institute official said.

The virus detected was H5N1, the same type found in poultry at Asada Nosan Co.'s Funai Farm in Tamba last February.

The institute captured about 200 flies at six locations up to 2.2 kilometers away from the farm in early March last year.

Flies fly about 1-2 km in half a day, the institute said.

The flies may have become infected with the virus by feeding on poultry droppings at the farm, the institute said.

A former chicken farm employee was found infected with the bird flu after the outbreak.