Avian influenza is spreading in Japan. Apparently wild birds that migrated to this country have triggered the spread of the flu. In December, avian flu was confirmed in a poultry farm in Yasugi, Shimane Prefecture. Then it was found in swans in Yonago, Tottori Prefecture, and Takaoka, Toyama Prefecture, and in hooded cranes in Izumi, Kagoshima Prefecture. It is very likely that more wild birds are infected with avian flu.
In late January, avian flu broke out in poultry farms in such places as Miyazaki city; Shintomi and Tsuno, Miyazaki Prefecture; Izumi and Toyohashi, Aichi Prefecture. In Japan, Yamaguchi Prefecture saw an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian flu in January 2004 — the first such outbreak in 79 years. Since then, there have been sporadic cases.
Outbreaks this time are of a large scale and threats of avian flu have entered a new stage. Poultry farmers and veterinarians are urged to be vigilant and to report irregularities immediately to authorities.