Bird flu detected in Japan, 112,000 chickens to be culled

Tokyo:  After two birds tested positive for avian influenza at a Japanese poultry farm Sunday, 112,000 chickens would be culled, the country's agriculture ministry said.

The deadly H5 virus was detected through genetic testing on six chickens at a farm in Kumamoto Prefecture where 1,100 chickens have died, Xinhua reported citing the ministry.

This is the first bird flu case in Japan since 2011.

Bird flu, or avian influenza, is a contagious disease of animal origin caused by viruses that normally only infect birds and, less commonly, pigs. It can be fatal to humans.