Japan finds new case of bird flu in area hit by infection

TOKYO (AFX) - Japan found a new case of bird flu in an area that has already been hit by the disease, leading authorities to prohibit the movement of more chickens.

A farm in Ibaraki, some 100 kms north of Tokyo, that had come out clean in previous tests was found to be infected by the disease, a local official said.

Authorities immediately banned movement of chickens and their eggs within 5 kms of the poultry farm.

The farm was near another chicken farm that discovered a flu outbreak in June. Ibaraki officials had been on the verge of lifting confinement orders for chickens and eggs from that farm.

The official could not immediately say how many chickens were involved in the latest case or give other details pending further tests.

Ibaraki prefecture has already killed 158,550 birds after the discovery of bird flu in Ibaraki.

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