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Mito-Area Road Race Cancelled Due to Avian Flu Outbreak

http://www.sankei.com/life/news/161214/lif1612140051-n1.html

translated by Brett Larner

After a series of wild birds at Lake Senba in downtown Mito, Ibaraki were found to be carrying the avian flu virus, on Dec. 14 the city's sports department cancelled a local road race scheduled to be held on the running loop around Lake Senba on Jan. 1.  According to the sports department, around 2000 people had already signed up for the road race.  The city will now begin to deal with returning their entry fees.

The city government also announced that a public ceremony for the fire department which had been scheduled at Lake Senba park on Jan. 8 has been moved to another location.  The weekly farmers' market held every Sunday will also be held at a different park in the city.  Ibaraki prefectural government officials said that eight dead or dying swans found at Lake Senba on Dec. 13 and 14 had tested positive for Avian flu.

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