Japan CONFIRMS Bird Flu Present in Dead Birds, 23,000 Chickens Slaughtered

23,000 chickens to be slaughtered in Shimane after avian flu detected in dead birds

The Mainichi Daily News

The Shimane Prefectural Government began to slaughter over 23,000 chickens at a poultry farm in the prefecture on Nov. 30 after five found dead there the previous day tested positive for highly-pathogenic avian flu, officials said.

This is the first time that the authorities have slaughtered farm animals before confirming they are infected with such a virus in full-scale tests. It is expected to take a few days for the prefectural government to complete the cull.

The prefectural government is also set to ban the transfer of chickens as well as chicken meat and eggs within a 10-kilometer radius from the poultry farm, an area that includes part of Tottori Prefecture.

Shimane Gov. Zenbee Mizoguchi urged prefectural government officials to take every possible measure to prevent the spread of the disease.

“I’d like them to work closely with the national government to prevent the spread of the disease. I’d also like them to clarify the cause of the infection and consider preventive measures,” he told the prefectural government’s crisis management headquarters on Nov. 30.

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