Ten days after the start of the New Year, one of the worst diseases affecting the poultry industry struck again. Japan’s agriculture ministry reported a case of avian influenza in the western region of the country.
The disease had been mostly silent in the country since March 2017. According to Japan’s agriculture ministry, the last outbreak which began in Nov. 2016 had more than 1.5 million chickens culled.
The disease that was just recently reported killed 55 birds and it is unclear whether the farm’s other 100,000 birds will be ordered to be culled as a preventative measure by the government.
The threat of avian influenza could possibly further affect the egg industry which has been rising in cost so far this year as a result of higher demand and low supply.
