Prime Minister Naoto Kan held the Ministerial Meeting for Countermeasures against Avian Influenza at the Prime Minister's Office.

The meeting was convened following the confirmation of a new case of avian influenza in Izumi City, Kagoshima Prefecture.

At the start of the meeting, the Prime Minister said, "I very much regret to report that a new case of avian influenza has also been confirmed in Kagoshima Prefecture. The region has a high concentration of poultry farms - as many as, if not more, than Miyazaki Prefecture, where there have already been outbreaks of avian influenza. By all means, we must prevent the disease from further spreading.
Avian influenza is difficult to contain, it is said, largely because of wild birds. It is not enough to just take firm measures on the ground. While there is a variety of interventions that we can take like setting up nets, it is still a significant challenge to prevent the spread of avian influenza.
In Miyazaki Prefecture, the Self-Defense Forces, the National Police Agency, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism are already doing their utmost to provide support to the prefecture. It is possible that Kagoshima too will be in the same situation, and so I ask that you make extensive preparations for that possibility. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has been playing the most pivotal role in responding to the outbreaks, and moving forward, I would like you to continue to take thorough measures.
The Cabinet will work together as one, with a sense of urgency, to tackle this issue. Let us keep that in mind and move forward with a clear resolve."