Miyazaki Confirms High-Path Avian Flu at Hyuga Poultry Farm as Culling Begins

Overview

• Genetic testing on November 22 confirmed high-pathogenicity avian influenza after a rapid test proved positive the day before when the farm reported an unusual rise in dead chickens.
• Prefectural authorities began culling about 48,000 meat chickens at the Hyuga City farm to contain the outbreak.
• Miyazaki officials announced the confirmation and launched standard control measures including site response and ongoing investigation.
• National officials placed the incident in seasonal context as the first poultry-farm case in Kyushu this season and the fifth confirmed case across Japan.
• In a separate development, Okinawa detected A-type avian influenza in an injured Eurasian teal found in Okinawa City, with high pathogenicity unconfirmed and a 10-kilometer wild bird surveillance zone established pending further tests.