Bird Flu Back: In Japan

[Sensei]

The bird flu path is shaping up. They said it would get to Japan then the migratory birds would fly to Alaska and then through Canada. Then finally down to California and possibly spread to the east coast of the US.

Source: Japan Times

The avian influenza that broke out last week at a poultry farm in Miyazaki Prefecture involved a highly virulent virus, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said Thursday.

The National Institute of Animal Health, which identified the virus as the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain on Tuesday, drew the conclusion after eight chickens inoculated with the sampled virus were dead by Thursday, the ministry said.

Based in Tsukuba, Ibaraki Prefecture, the institute will continue genetic analysis for the consideration of the ministry's panel of experts.

The H5N1 strain, a subtype of the influenza A virus circulating basically in birds, has spread mainly in Asia and has killed more than 160 people in 10 countries since 2003, according to the World Health Organization.