On October 17, reports from Japanese media indicated that highly pathogenic H5 avian influenza virus has been detected in chickens at a poultry farm in Hokkaido, Japan. The Hokkaido government announced that they will cull approximately 19,000 chickens from the affected farm.
According to NHK, the Hokkaido government is expected to complete the culling operation by October 18, after which disinfection of the poultry house will take place. Additionally, the transportation of chickens and eggs has been banned within a three-kilometer radius of the farm, while shipments are prohibited in areas three to ten kilometers away.
In a statement to reporters on the afternoon of the 17th, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba emphasized the importance of a swift and coordinated response from relevant departments to contain the outbreak. He noted that preventing the spread of avian influenza in the early stages is crucial, and the government will work together to address the situation decisively. Furthermore, on the same day, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries convened a meeting to discuss measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
