The Environment Ministry said Friday it will ask prefectural governments to carry out random bird-flu tests on live crows and pigeons, to help it gain a better understanding of how the virus is spreading.
It will be the first time for the government to conduct nationwide testing of wild birds in connection with avian flu.
The ministry will consult with the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry on decisions over the scale of the study and other details, Environment Ministry officials said.