Archive · 30 Dec 2025
Japan confirms first bird flu outbreak in greater Tokyo area
Japan has found bird flu at a chicken farm near Tokyo.
This is the first case in the Tokyo area this season and the 12th case in Japan.
The farm has about 240,000 chickens, and all of them will be put down to stop the virus from spreading.
The government is also taking extra steps to clean the area and check other nearby farms.
Bird flu usually happens from autumn to spring and can make people sick if they touch infected birds.
It's important to catch it early to keep everyone safe.
Japan's agriculture ministry confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm in Saitama Prefecture, marking the 12th outbreak this season and the first in the greater Tokyo area.
The affected farm raises about 240,000 egg-laying chickens and will cull, incinerate, and bury all of them to prevent the virus from spreading.
Disinfection efforts and movement restrictions will be imposed on nearby poultry farms to contain the outbreak.
The agriculture ministry will step up measures to prevent further spread and dispatch an epidemiological investigation team to the farm.
Japan's avian influenza season typically runs from autumn until the following spring, with previous outbreaks leading to the culling of over 3.65 million chickens this season.
- Who
- Japan's agriculture ministry and Saitama prefectural government
- What
- Confirmed outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm
- When
- Tuesday (specific date not mentioned)
- Where
- Ranzan Town, Saitama Prefecture, greater Tokyo area
- Why
- To prevent further spread of the virus and enforce early detection and hygiene management measures
- Location
- Ranzan Town, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
- Type of Farm
- Poultry farm raising 240,000 egg-laying chickens
- Number of Outbreaks This Season
- 12th outbreak
- Chickens to be Culled
- All 240,000 chickens at the farm
- Previous Culling This Season
- Over 3.65 million chickens
- Avian Influenza Types
- A(H5N1), A(H9N2)
- Incubation Period
- 2 to 5 days (up to 17 days)
- Human Symptoms
- Fever, malaise, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, pneumonia