April 29, 2008

Japan detects bird flu in wild swans

Japan has detected bird flu in four wild swans, although it has not been confirmed whether it is the highly virulent H5N1 strain or not.
 

The birds were found on the shores of Lake Towada in Akita prefecture on April 21, said the prefectural government in a news release. Three of the birds had died.

Inspectors detected the H5 strain of bird flu in the swans but it is not clear whether it's H5N1 or not.

Authorities patrolled the area but did not find any unnatural deaths or large number of deaths among wild birds.

There are also no poultry farms within a 10 km radius of the area where the swans were found, and situations at other farms are normal.

A farm ministry official said they have requested a step up of surveillance measures at poultry farms in Akita and the other prefectures in the area, including Aomori and Iwate.

Japan has increased bird flu surveillance following major outbreaks of the disease in South Korea.