Chickens at a farm in Konosu, Tokyo 's neighboring Saitama Prefecture in east Japan, have tested positive for bird flu virus, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said Thursday.

The virus detected is of the H5 variety but is considered to be a weaker type because no mass deaths have occurred at the farm, according to the ministry.

The Saitama prefectural government has decided to cull the farm 's 98,300 chickens and ban the transfer of chickens and eggs within 5 kilometers from the farm, which produces eggs for processed food.

Japan reported an outbreak of bird flu, the first in the country since 1925, in Yamaguchi Prefecture last December.

Source: Xinhua