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Japan confirms bird flu outbreak | Japan confirms bird flu outbreak |
(40 minutes later) | |
Officials in Japan have confirmed that a recent outbreak of bird flu at a poultry farm was the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus. | Officials in Japan have confirmed that a recent outbreak of bird flu at a poultry farm was the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus. |
Almost 4,000 chickens died at a farm in Miyazaki on the southern island of Kyushu last week, and the remaining 8,000 birds were culled on Sunday. | |
Tests confirmed the presence of H5N1, an Agriculture Ministry statement said. | Tests confirmed the presence of H5N1, an Agriculture Ministry statement said. |
There were a number of H5N1 outbreaks in Japan in early 2004, but there have been no human deaths from the virus. | There were a number of H5N1 outbreaks in Japan in early 2004, but there have been no human deaths from the virus. |
"The examination conducted at the National Institute of Animal Health confirmed that the bird flu virus detected in Miyazaki prefecture was the H5N1 strain," the ministry statement said. | "The examination conducted at the National Institute of Animal Health confirmed that the bird flu virus detected in Miyazaki prefecture was the H5N1 strain," the ministry statement said. |
The government has banned the shipment of eggs and chickens from farms within a 6 mile (10km) radius of the outbreak. | The government has banned the shipment of eggs and chickens from farms within a 6 mile (10km) radius of the outbreak. |
Health officials across Asia are on alert as a growing number of countries have reported cases in both birds and humans in recent weeks. | Health officials across Asia are on alert as a growing number of countries have reported cases in both birds and humans in recent weeks. |
On Monday Thailand reported a new outbreak, while officials in nearby Vietnam said bird flu had reached a seventh province in the Mekong Delta region. | On Monday Thailand reported a new outbreak, while officials in nearby Vietnam said bird flu had reached a seventh province in the Mekong Delta region. |
Four people have already died from the virus in Indonesia this year. | Four people have already died from the virus in Indonesia this year. |
Since the H5N1 virus emerged in South East Asia in late 2003, it has claimed more than 150 lives around the world. | |
There are fears the virus could mutate to a form which could be easily passed from human to human, triggering a pandemic and potentially putting millions of lives at risk. | There are fears the virus could mutate to a form which could be easily passed from human to human, triggering a pandemic and potentially putting millions of lives at risk. |