(MENAFN) Japanese officials have detected a deadly avian influenza strain at a commercial poultry operation in Niigata prefecture, marking the nation's third confirmed outbreak this season, authorities announced Tuesday.

The Niigata prefectural government confirmed the highly pathogenic virus presence at a facility in Tainai city, triggering an emergency culling order affecting 630,000 egg-laying hens—one of the largest single-site eliminations in recent months.

Alarm bells first sounded Monday morning when farm operators reported unusual mortality spikes among their flock, according to officials. Rapid diagnostic screening detected the virus, with subsequent genetic sequencing confirming the pathogen's identity.

This latest detection extends Japan's escalating bird flu emergency, which began October 22 when authorities identified the season's initial case in Shiraoi town within Hokkaido, the country's northernmost prefecture. A second outbreak emerged just days ago Sunday in Eniwa city, also located in Hokkaido.

The concentrated outbreak pattern—three confirmed cases within two weeks across two prefectures—signals potential spread risks as migratory bird populations traverse the region during seasonal flight patterns.

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