June 22, 2023

WOAH acknowledges Japan's bird flu-free status on website

Japan's agriculture ministry announced that its declaration that the country is free of bird flu has been updated on the World Organisation for Animal Health's (WOAH) website.

Japan posted a record high number of avian influenza infections from October to April. About 17.7 million chickens and other birds had to be culled at 84 poultry farms and elsewhere across 26 prefectures. The virus has not been detected since an outbreak started at a poultry farm in Chitose City, Hokkaido, on April 7.

WOAH posted Japan's declaration on June 19, based on material submitted by the ministry. It said the self-declaration started on May 13 after prevention measures were taken at the farm in Chitose and a certain period of time had elapsed. The ministry said this indicates that bird flu has been eradicated from poultry farms and elsewhere in the country since that day.

It is understood that migratory birds carry the virus into Japan from around fall. Ministry officials are calling on farmers to ensure that disinfection measures and other steps are taken to prevent bird flu from spreading next season.

- NHK