Japan's agriculture ministry is urging officials across the country to strengthen measures against avian flu.

The ministry convened an online emergency meeting of prefectural officials on Thursday.

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Eto Taku called for all possible efforts to deal with the rapid increase in bird flu cases.

The infections are increasing at a similar pace to late 2022, when a record number were detected in Japan.

As of Wednesday, 10 cases of bird flu had been confirmed at poultry farms in eight prefectures from Hokkaido in the north to the Kyushu region in the southwest.

The ministry has inspected poultry farms with infections. It says that in some cases, dust carrying the bird flu virus likely entered the facilities through ventilators.

It also found that some contractors had apparently failed to change their clothes and shoes when they visited farms.

Farmers are being advised to sprinkle water to prevent rising dust when they ventilate their farms. They should also postpone non-essential construction work to stop workers from bringing in the virus.