Tokyo, Dec 16 (IANS): At least three chickens have tested positive for a highly pathogenic H5 strain of avian influenza at a farm in Japan's Miyazaki prefecture, around 900 km from capital Tokyo, media reported Tuesday.
The prefectural government has decided to cull all of the roughly 4,000 birds raised at the farm, Kyodo News reported.
Miyazaki prefecture, located in Nobeoka city, is the country's top poultry producing prefecture.
The prefectural government said it plans to complete necessary procedures by the end of Tuesday, including burying all of the chickens and disinfecting the farm.