Japan has again detected bird flu of the virulent H5N1 strain in a swan, in the third case in the country this year.
The dead swan was found in the northern-most main island of Hokkaido, the government of Hokkaido said today (May 10).
The case was confirmed five days ago.
On the same day local authorities said bird flu had been found in another dead swanfound the previous month on another area of the island.
The latest case is the third in Japan this year.
In late April several swans were found with the H5N1 strain on the shores of Lake Towada close to the northern tip of the main island of Honshu.
The livestock hygiene service centre will issue an order for chicken farms within a 30km radius to disinfect poultry houses, Kyodo news agency said.
No human deaths from the disease have been reported in Japan.