30.06.2005

Chickens at five Japanese poultry farms near one recently hit by the avian influenza virus have shown signs of also being infected with the disease.
The five farms are located about 0.3 miles from the area in Ibaraki prefecture where a low pathogenic avian influenza strain was confirmed. The birds at the five farms were found carrying the antibody to the disease, indicating the birds had been infected with the virus, the Asahi Shimbun reported Thursday.
The type of virus has yet to be confirmed, officials said.
The discovery of the H5N2 strain of the avian influenza virus on a farm in eastern Japan has led to the culling of more than 100,000 birds. Japan's Agriculture Ministry said Wednesday that it would slaughter 94,000 more birds to prevent the disease from spreading; 25,000 were culled initially.