According to a report from public broadcaster NHK, Japan has detected the first case of highly pathogenic H5-type bird flu this season at a poultry farm in the south of the country. The local government in Saga prefecture plans to cull about 40,000 birds on the farm, and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will convene relevant cabinet ministers to discuss measures to prevent the spread of the virus. The virus was detected as a result of genetic testing conducted after some poultry birds were found dead at the farm on Friday. Highly pathogenic avian influenza has become a global concern in recent years, leading to the culling of hundreds of millions of birds. Ministry officials were not immediately available for comment outside of business hours.