# 1923
While few details are available at this time, and the exact strain of bird flu has yet to be determined, officials are saying that they've discovered `bird flu' in 3 dead and 1 weakening swan at Lake Towada in the Akita Prefecture.
Highlighted in the map above, Akita Prefecture is a popular tourist destination in Japan. Lake Towada is a caldera (crater) lake, and is about 450 km from Tokyo.
Bird flu virus found in 3 dead swans in Akita
Monday 28th April, 04:59 PM JST
AKITA —
The avian influenza virus has been detected in three dead swans and one weakening one along Lake Towada in Kosaka, Akita Prefecture, the Akita prefectural government said Monday. The Akita government said it has asked the state to determine whether the virus belongs to the deadly H5N1 strain.
Local officials said they have yet to find a link between the virus and the deaths of the swans. The officials said they see a low possibility of the virus damaging human health as there have been no reports of many birds or animals dying in the northeastern Japan prefecture.
