Japan Confirms 20th Avian Influenza Outbreak This Season

Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced on February 21 that a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak has been confirmed at a poultry farm in Iwate Prefecture. According to Jin10, this marks the 20th avian influenza outbreak in Japan this season. The farm reported to Iwate Prefecture authorities on February 20 that there had been a continuous death of chickens in recent days. The Ministry's public notice on February 21 stated that on-site inspections and genetic testing confirmed the presence of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus in the farm's chickens.