Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said on the 17th local time that a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak occurred at a chicken farm in Hokkaido. This is the first bird flu outbreak reported in Japan during this bird flu season. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that the relevant departments in Hokkaido received a report from a chicken farm in Atsuma on the 16th that the number of deaths of chickens raised there had increased, and the relevant departments carried out on-site investigations. The genetic test results announced on the 17th showed that these chickens were infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. The local area has begun culling about 19,000 chickens raised at this chicken farm.

Japan's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said on the 17th local time that a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak occurred at a chicken farm in Hokkaido. This is the first bird flu outbreak reported in Japan during this bird flu season. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that the relevant departments in Hokkaido received a report from a chicken farm in Atsuma on the 16th that the number of deaths of chickens raised there had increased, and the relevant departments carried out on-site investigations. The genetic test results announced on the 17th showed that these chickens were infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus. The local area has begun culling about 19,000 chickens raised at this chicken farm.