Japan detects season's first bird flu case, to cull 40,000 birds - NHK

A test tube labelled "Bird Flu", eggs and a piece of paper in the colours of the Japanese national flag are seen in this picture illustration, January 14, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan detected the first case of highly pathogenic H5-type bird flu this season at a poultry farm in the south of the country, public broadcaster NHK reported on Saturday.

The local government in Saga prefecture will cull about 40,000 birds on the farm, NHK said, citing agriculture ministry officials it did not name.