Third Bird flu outbreak in Japan

Japan - Officials confirm a third outbreak of bird flu on a farm in Takahashi - although it is unclear if it is the H5N1 strain dangerous to humans.
About 40 chickens died and all poultry there are to be culled, and the movement of people and goods restricted.
Two H5N1 bird flu outbreaks were confirmed earlier this month in the southern prefecture of Miyazaki.
Tests have already determined that the new case of bird flu belongs to the H5 family of the virus, but further tests are to be made to find out if it is the strain potentially deadly to humans.
H5N1.
Officials are taking no chances and will cull all 12,000 birds at the affected Takahashi farm as early as Tuesday.
Other farms in a 10 km (six-mile) radius have been banned from transporting chickens and eggs, a ministry official said.

There have been a number of H5N1 outbreaks in Japan since early 2004, but no human deaths from the virus.
Across Asia health officials are on alert as a growing number of countries have reported cases in birds and humans in recent weeks.
Since the H5N1 virus emerged in South East Asia in 2003, it has claimed more than 150 lives around the world.