Prime Minister Kishida orders measures to prevent spread of bird flu

Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has instructed relevant Cabinet ministers to strengthen measures to prevent the spread of bird flu amid outbreaks nationwide.

Kishida and the ministers met on Thursday as the number of bird flu cases in Japan has been surging since autumn.

Cases had been confirmed at 47 poultry farms and other facilities in 22 prefectures as of Thursday morning, with more than 7 million chickens and other birds subject to culling.

The number of birds culled is increasing at a pace faster than two years ago, when a record number were culled.

Kishida said experts point out that the virus concentration is rising across Japan.

He also said if a new outbreak is detected, relevant ministries and agencies, including the defense ministry and the land ministry should work together to quickly take preventive measures.

He instructed officials to strengthen monitoring of the situation and remain on alert even during the year-end and New Year holidays.

Preventive measures include emergency disinfection nationwide, starting from farms and other facilities in prefectures where outbreaks have occurred, and calls for poultry farmers to implement stringent hygiene control.

The government also plans to support community-wide preventive measures, such as installing disinfectant equipment and taking steps to keep wild birds away from reservoirs.

Source: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20221222_17/