Since the start of 2025, Japan has been grappling with a rapid surge in avian influenza cases, raising significant concern nationwide. In January alone, a staggering 5.4 million chickens and other birds were culled in an effort to contain the outbreak.
Photo via The Himalayan Times
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) reported 43 outbreaks of avian flu for the 2024 fiscal year as of 24 January. This figure is second only to the record set in fiscal year 2022. Alarmingly, the number of birds culled in January 2025 has already surpassed that of January 2023, when 4.6 million birds were culled.
To combat the spread, MAFF has established local task forces in Chiba, Aichi, and Iwate Prefectures as of 22 January. Chiba, home to Japan's largest population of egg-laying hens—11.2 million as of 2024—has been hit particularly hard, with approximately 2.5 million birds culled by 24 January.
The impact has also been felt at the consumer level. A survey on food prices released by MAFF on 21 January revealed that the average retail price for a pack of 10 eggs had risen to ¥269 (approximately MYR8.50), marking a 16% increase compared to typical years. Additionally, data from the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (Zen-Noh) indicated that the wholesale price for medium-sized eggs in Tokyo reached ¥279 per kilogram (around MYR8.80) on 27 January, slightly higher than the same period in 2023.
The situation remains fluid as authorities intensify efforts to contain the outbreak and mitigate its effects on both the poultry industry and consumers.
