Japan confirms pet bantams had bird flu

Japan’s Farm Ministry has confirmed a fresh outbreak of bird flu, after tests on some dead bantams found they had been infected with the disease.

Japan’s Farm Ministry has confirmed a fresh outbreak of bird flu, after tests on some dead bantams found they had been infected with the disease.Ministry officials say the seven bantams were among 13 of the birds who had been kept as pets in a household.The six other bantams and a duck have been slaughtered for testing to determine whether all the birds were infected.The Ministry has also banned public access to the area and sterilised chicken co-ops.An initial outbreak of bird flu was reported last month, leading to about 34,000 chickens being slaughtered.(Source: ABC Health News, Feb 2004)