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Bird flu found at another Japanese farm

February 2, 2007

Japanese officials have confirmed a fourth case of avian influenza with the deaths of almost two dozen chickens at an egg farm in a major poultry region.

The new outbreak occurred at a farm in Miyazaki Prefecture between two farms where bird flu was found in January, Kyodo News Service reported.
Agricultural officials say 93,000 chickens will be culled at the site of the new outbreak and movement of eggs and live poultry will be banned within a 6-mile radius. A sweep for avian influenza in wild birds in the district is also planned.
Officials are unsure if the virus has been passing from farm to farm or has been spread by wild birds.

The H5N1 strain of avian influenza was first detected in southeast Asia and has now been found throughout Asia and in Europe and Africa. The strain has killed about 100 people and has caused the deaths of millions of birds directly or through culling.

Source : http://washingtontimes.com