Japan discovered a new outbreak of bird flu

The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture today (29-1) confirmed a new outbreak of bird flu and the third outbreak in the country this month was discovered at a ranch in Takahashi City, Okayama Prefecture.

At this farm, 49 chickens out of 12,000 died since Friday (26-1). Test results show the presence of avian influenza virus.

The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture said it has asked to kill all poultry at the farm and disinfect around the outbreak area, while limiting travel within a 10-kilometer radius from the farm. have dead birds.

Earlier this month, Japan discovered two bird flu outbreaks in Miyazaki Prefecture, the largest poultry supplier in the southwest. To date, no human cases of bird flu have been reported in Japan. The most recent case of human avian flu was discovered in the country three years ago.

Disinfection at a poultry farm in Hyuga, southwestern Japan on January 27
(Photo: Kyodo / Reuters)

* A source from the Azerbaijan Ministry of Health said a 14-year-old teenager suspected of catching bird flu died yesterday (January 28) at the Lung Disease Research Institute in Baku.

The victim was Azhdar Askerov, hospitalized several days ago with symptoms of bird flu. A source from the Ministry of Health said the boy died of pneumonia.

A special laboratory of the Azerbaijan Ministry of Agriculture did not detect the H5N1 virus in the boy's blood, but blood samples were sent to a London laboratory of the World Health Organization (WHO) for further examination.

Azhdar Askerov lives in Salyan district on the banks of the Kura River, where many migratory birds hibernate. Last year, many cases of bird flu were detected in this area. 5 people were killed, including 4 from Daikend village.

* Taiwanese officials today (January 29) said they have successfully tested the new vaccine against avian flu that could protect humans from the H5N1 virus and hope to mass produce the vaccine. in the next 2 years.

Pele Chong, head of the bird flu vaccine development program at the Taiwan Health Research Institute, said human trials will be carried out in the near future and hope to produce 80,000 doses of the flu vaccine. held for 1 month.

T.VY