new bird flu found in Japan

bird flu outbreaks discovered in Ibaraki since late June have been confirmed as the weak H5N2 strain.

This is a less virulent type than the H5N1 strain found in previous avian flu outbreaks in Japan early last year.

The H5N1 strain first surfaced in poultry in Hong Kong and China eight years ago and is known to have killed more than 50 people in countries including Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia.

The location of the latest outbreak in Japan is about 6 km (4 miles) from where the initial case was found in late June.

Since June, authorities have killed chickens at seven farms, all located near the initial case, after they tested positive in antibody tests.

The farm in the latest case has about 35,000 birds.

Following the new case, authorities limited the movement of eggs and chickens in a 5 km radius around the farm to prevent the virus from spreading.

Bird flu returned to Japan last year for the first time in 79 years.
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