First bird flu case of the season confirmed at Kyoto poultry farm

Japan has confirmed its first bird flu case of the season at a poultry farm in Kyoto Prefecture, the government announced Thursday.

The avian influenza has killed 14 birds at the farm in Kameoka in the prefecture, the farm ministry said. The country has begun culling about 20,000 chickens there after testing confirmed the virus.

“The government is asking poultry farmers to make sure they follow strict hygiene,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara said.

Agriculture minister Arata Takebe told reporters that a bird flu outbreak could happen anywhere in the country.

“We ask each farm to carry out early detection, ensure early notification and implement thorough hygiene management,” he said.

According to a food price trend survey by the ministry, the average price of a pack of 10 eggs in Japan in October was ¥312, a record high since the survey began in August 2003. An avian flu spread could further raise egg prices ahead of the year-end high-demand season.

“We’ll thoroughly implement measures to prevent a spread (of bird flu) so as not to affect supply and demand,” Takebe said.