Feb 17 2004
The first bird flu case since 1925 in Japan was confirmed in Ato-town, Yamaguchi prefecture on Jan. 12, 2004. More than 6,000 chickens at a poultry farm in Yamaguchi died suddenly, and bird flu virus was detected from some chickens. The bird flu virus found was a type of bird flu virus which could kill 80 percent of birds infected with it. To prevent the virus from spreading, about 30,000 chickens at the farm was burned and buried. The route of the infection is not clear. However, no chickens near the farm (within a radius of 30km) have been found infected by the bird flu virus since then.
On Feb. 17, 2004, the second case of bird flu in Japan was reported in Oita prefecture. Bird flu virus was found from a bantam in a breeder's home in Kokonoe-town. Seven bantams among 13 bantams at the same house have died since last week.
No humans get infected with the bird flu virus in Japan. It's said that eating fully cooked chicken or eggs is safe.
