August 5, 2005

Bird flu suspected in east Japan

Bird flu may have hit east Japan's Fukushima prefecture, after blood serum from some chickens in a local hennery tested positive for a bird flu virus, said the Fukushima prefectural government on Aug 3.

The blood sample will now be sent to the National Institute of Animal Health in the Ibaraki prefecture for confirmation tests.

The prefectural government will also sterilise the infected hennery facility immediately and restrict moving chickens out of the affected area.