Ibaraki Prefecture Confirms Major Bird Flu Outbreak, Nearly 1 Million Chickens to be Culled

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected in Ibaraki

Ibaraki Prefecture in eastern Japan announced on Thursday the confirmation of a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak at a poultry farm located in Shirosato. This incident necessitates the culling of approximately 970,000 egg-laying chickens, making it the largest single culling operation in Japan this season.

The Ibaraki Prefectural Government stated that this is the first bird flu case in the prefecture for the current season.

Wider Impact on Japan's Poultry Industry

This outbreak represents the tenth confirmed bird flu case involving a poultry farm across Japan this season. The cumulative number of chickens slated for culling nationwide due to avian influenza has now reached approximately 3.65 million.

Japan's avian influenza season typically spans from autumn until the following spring, with the first case this season identified in Hokkaido on October 22.

Concerns Over Egg Supply and Market Prices

The repeated outbreaks and extensive culling operations are intensifying concerns regarding the stability of Japan's egg supply and the potential for further price increases. Egg prices have already been on an upward trend this season.

• The wholesale price for midsize eggs in the Tokyo area reached ¥345 per kilogram on Thursday.
• This figure is close to the peak of ¥350 recorded between March and June 2023.

During the 2022-2023 season, Japan experienced a record 84 bird flu cases across 26 prefectures, leading to the culling of about 17.71 million chickens and a significant spike in egg prices.