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Japan adds an 11th Prefecture (Kochi), and 5 more poultry farm outbreaks, to their record-setting avian flu epizootic which began in early November. Well over 3 million birds have been culled, making this Japan's worst outbreak on record.
Additionally, Japan has detected 17 instances of avian flu in wild birds, and/or their environment, which expands its range to 15 prefectures (see orange regions in map above).
While HPAI H5N8 is not considered a zoonotic threat, it can be devastating to both wild birds and poultry. This recent uptick in HPAI H5 activity has also included strains capable of infecting humans, including H5N1 in Laos and H5N6 in China.
South Korea is also reporting heavy avian flu activity, both in wild birds and in domesticated poultry, and while it lags behind Japan in the number of farms infected, their losses this fall are more than double Japan's.
You'll find links to the five most recently reported farm outbreaks below.
December 16, 2nd year of Reiwa Confirmation of pseudo-patients with highly pathogenic avian influenza in Kagawa Prefecture (28th domestic poultry)
December 16, Reiwa Confirmation of pseudo-patients with highly pathogenic avian influenza in Kochi Prefecture (27th domestic poultry case)
December 14, 2nd year of Reiwa Confirmation of pseudo-patients with highly pathogenic avian influenza in Miyazaki Prefecture (26th case in domestic poultry)
December 14, 2nd year of Reiwa Confirmation of pseudo-patients with highly pathogenic avian influenza in Kagawa Prefecture (25th case in domestic poultry)
December 14, 2nd year of Reiwa Confirmation of pseudo-patients with highly pathogenic avian influenza in Miyazaki Prefecture (24th case in domestic poultry)
