Tokyo, Nov. 25, (dpa/GNA) – Japanese authorities on Wednesday began to slaughter about 94,000 chickens at a poultry farm on the southern island of Kyushu after a bird flu outbreak was discovered, the government said.
Fukuoka Governor Hiroshi Ogawa asked for the dispatch of soldiers for the culling operation at the affected farm in the city of Munakata on Kyushu.
“The highest priority now is the immediate and thorough containment of the outbreak,” Ogawa said at a local government meeting in the morning.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries confirmed the nation’s ninth case of avian influenza this season.
Workers at the farm found that about 40 chickens were dead on Tuesday, which is far more than usual, and reported this to local government officials.
Authorities set up a three-kilometre zone around the farm.
GNA