Japan and South Korea are attempting to contain the spread of an infectious and savage influenza strain – resulting in the culling of 9 million chickens, ducks, and quail since November.

The “exceptionally pathogenic avian flu H5N8” in wild birds and poultry has additionally been accounted for in 12 different nations, essentially in Western Europe, since July.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization said the flare-up in Japan and neighboring South Korea was one of two separate overall bird influenza outbreaks. It said the two strains in Asia and one in Europe began in wild birds spreading the sickness during their migration.

Japan on Monday said it had killed more than 11,000 birds after this season’s virus was found at an egg ranch in Higashiomi, Shiga prefecture in southwestern Japan, as per the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The agency said that it was Japan’s worst outbreak. Since showing up in late November the infection has spread to new ranches and now affects 10 of the nation’s 47 prefectures. Nearly 3 million birds have been killed to date – a record.