Japan to cull 410,000 chickens due to bird flu

TOKYO — An official said bird flu has been detected on a farm in southern Japan and its 410,000 chickens are to be culled. Miyazaki agricultural official Masuhiro Nozaki said five dead birds on the farm were confirmed infected with the H5 strain of bird flu late Sunday. Nozaki said more tests were under way to determine whether it was the virulent H5N1 subtype. Nozaki said Monday that Japan will send some 160 ground troops to Miyazaki to help local authorities contain the spread of bird flu. — AP