KAGOSHIMA (Kyodo) A white-naped crane found in a debilitated state on the Izumi plain in Kagoshima Prefecture that later died is thought to have been infected with avian influenza, local officials said Thursday.
Previously, a hooded crane in the area was found to be carrying a very highly infectious strain of avian flu.
The white-naped crane was captured Tuesday, and found dead in its cage Thursday morning, according to officials of the city of Izumi.
The first of two tests the city conducted on the crane returned a weakly positive result, while the second test was inconclusive. Samples will be sent to Tottori University for further tests, the officials said.
White-naped and hooded cranes are both vulnerable species. Cranes that winter on the Izumi plain — Japan's biggest migration ground for cranes — are designated as "special natural treasures" by the government for protection purposes.
Of the six hooded cranes that died on and around the plain by Tuesday, four have tested positive in preliminary tests. One of the four was confirmed Tuesday to be infected with the H5N1 strain of highly infectious bird flu, and detailed tests are still being conducted on the other three, according to the local officials.
Although the officials earlier said another hooded crane was found dead in a residential area, they corrected the announcement to say it is still alive but weak.
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