Tokyo, March 6 – Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has confirmed a bird flu outbreak at a poultry farm in Abira, Hokkaido. This marks the fourth case in the northern region this season and the 21st across the country.
The affected farm houses approximately 190,000 chickens. Local authorities were notified by the farm on Wednesday, with rapid tests that same day yielding positive results. Genetic confirmation followed the next day.
To prevent further spread, all birds on the farm will be culled, incinerated, and buried. Officials are on high alert as Japan’s bird flu season typically spans from late autumn through spring.
Avian influenza, particularly the H5N1 subtype, primarily affects birds and mammals. Human infections are rare but can be severe. The virus first emerged in 1996 and has since caused outbreaks worldwide.
Since 2020, a variant of the H5 clade has led to unprecedented deaths in wild birds and poultry across Africa, Asia, and Europe. It reached North America in 2021 and South America in 2022.
Human cases, linked to close contact with infected animals or environments, carry a high mortality rate exceeding 50% since 2003. Sustained human-to-human transmission remains unreported.
Health experts urge strict biosecurity measures in poultry operations and caution for those handling birds. Japan’s swift response underscores the ongoing global battle against this persistent threat.