Japan has reported its first bird flu outbreak of the season at a poultry farm in Hokkaido in the country’s north. The virus typically starts to spread with the migration of wild birds from around October.
Prefectural officials say testing of dead chickens at the site found the highly fatal H5 strain of the avian influenza.
The prefecture will cull about 19,000 chickens at the farm by Friday, then disinfect the poultry facilities.
Agriculture Minister Ozato Yasuhiro said the outbreak is the earliest ever for Japan in the bird flu season.
He added: “There have already been cases of wild birds carrying the virus. So there could be infections anywhere in the country.”
Government officials say they’ll work swiftly to bring the situation under control.