News in brief:
– Japan has culled 5 million chickens in January 2025 due to a severe bird flu outbreak, causing egg prices to rise by over 15%.
– The rapid spread of the virus has prompted concerns over food security and economic losses.
Japan has culled about 5 million chickens in January 2025 as bird flu cases spike. The rapidly spreading infection has led to a rise in egg prices, estimated to be more than 15% by a report.
Massive culling of birds to control the spread of the disease results in direct financial losses for farmers and related businesses. It will disrupt supply chains due to export bans by trading partners, further reducing foreign exchange. The cost of disease surveillance, biosecurity measures, and compensation to affected farmers adds additional financial strain on governments.
The country has a history of avian flu, with the typical infectious period ranging from autumn to spring. However, this year’s bird culling number has already beaten the previous monthly record and the spread rate is the second fastest.
At least 26 farms, distributed between five prefectures (or provinces), have partaken in the culling exercise. The situation looks bleak with Eto Taku, Japan’s Minister of Agriculture, conceding that this may be the worst case in history. The ministry set up a task force in Iwate prefecture in response to a recent outbreak in two farms.
“There are no signs the outbreaks will end. The figures may hit the highest ever, given how the situation is deteriorating,” the minister said.
The virus is transmitted through direct contact with infected birds, droppings, or contaminated surfaces. Bird flu outbreaks can spread rapidly within poultry farms, leading to high mortality rates among birds and significant disruptions in the poultry industry. Although some strains of the virus pose minimal risk to humans, highly pathogenic strains, such as H5N1, have caused public health concerns due to their potential to jump to humans and cause severe illness.
Bird flu poses a significant threat to food security, especially in regions where poultry is a key source of protein and income for households. Low-income households could be inappropriately affected, exacerbating malnutrition and poverty.
