Japan culls 40,000 birds after detecting its first case of bird flu

Written By ندى ماهر عبدربه on 2023/11/30

This article was written originally in Arabic and is translated using a 3rd party automated service. ArabiaWeather is not responsible for any grammatical errors whatsoever.

Weather of Arabia - The Japanese Broadcasting Corporation announced on Saturday that the first case of infection with the H5 avian influenza virus this season had been detected at a poultry farm in the south of the country. Reports said, citing officials in the Ministry of Agriculture, whose identities were not revealed, The local government in Saga County intends to conduct a cull of about 40,000 birds on the farm.

Ministry officials could not be reached for comment outside working hours, according to Reuters, and the authority indicated that Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will hold a meeting with the relevant ministers in the government to discuss the measures that must be taken to prevent the spread of the virus.

Reports stated that the virus was discovered after genetic tests were conducted on poultry birds after some of them were found dead on the farm last Friday. It is noteworthy that the H5 bird influenza virus has spread globally in recent years, leading to the culling of hundreds of millions of birds.

What is the bird flu virus?

Bird influenza is considered a deadly viral disease that is transmitted between birds, such as poultry and wild birds such as ducks. Although the bird influenza virus causes infection only among birds, it may pose a rare danger to humans in exceptional cases when dealing directly with infected birds. Transmission to humans can occur through direct contact, such as interacting with infected birds or consuming undercooked eggs or meat.

Transmission of the virus can also occur from person to person, as in the case of transmission from a mother to her child during the breastfeeding period. The result of infection with bird flu can be severe, and antivirals help reduce the severity of the infection.

Causes of bird flu

The H5N1 influenza virus causes avian influenza, both in birds and in humans

Symptoms of bird flu

Runny nose
Cough (dry or accompanied by mucus)
Breathing difficulty
diarrhea
The temperature rises above 38 degrees Celsius
Sore throat
Muscle pain
Headache
Lethargy and fatigue

How is bird flu diagnosed?

The diagnosis of bird flu depends on a laboratory test that is used to detect the strain of influenza virus causing bird flu (H5N1).

This examination is characterized by its results appearing within only 4 hours, and the examination includes various elements such as:

Checking the white blood cell count

This test is performed to evaluate the condition of the blood and determine the presence of any changes that indicate infection with the virus.

X-ray of the chest

It is used to evaluate the condition of the lungs and check for any changes or inflammation.

Laboratory culture of a swab from the nasopharyngeal cavity

This test is performed to detect the presence of the virus in the respiratory system.

How is bird flu treated?

Treatment for bird flu may include the use of antiviral drugs, which are recommended as soon as possible, specifically within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms, and in cases of chronic infection, the patient is transferred to the hospital. Due to his need for artificial respirators.

How is bird flu prevented?

Avoid visiting live bird breeding sites in areas where bird flu infection is widespread, and it is recommended to use protective masks when in direct contact with birds that may be affected by the infection.

A record number of poultry birds were culled in Japan due to bird flu... Warnings and precautionary measures continue

A record number of poultry birds were culled in Japan, with the toll reaching 17.7 million birds last season, prompting authorities to remain on high alert. Some of the viruses that cause bird flu include H10N3, H5N1, H7N9, and H9N2.

According to the World Health Organization, transmission of human infections occurs mainly through direct contact with infected animals or contaminated environments. However, such infections usually do not lead to active transmission of these viruses in humans.