Two bantams kept as pets at a lumber mill in the town of Kokonoe, Oita Prefecture, have been confirmed as having bird flu, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry confirmed Tuesday.
It is the second outbreak in Japan this year. The other case, the country's first in 79 years, was confirmed Jan. 12 at a poultry farm in Yamaguchi Prefecture. About 34,000 chickens were destroyed in the Yamaguchi case.
The National Institute of Animal Health officially confirmed the Oita case in the afternoon after the birds tested positive during preliminary testing by the prefecture, ministry officials said.