Announcement

**Treyfish** · April 16, 2008, 08:26 AM

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

<TABLE cellSpacing=6 cellPadding=0 width=468 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD background=/www/news/images/view_title.gif><TABLE height=20 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=left height=30><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="70%">04-16-2008 18:33</TD><TD align=right width="30%"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=style7 align=middle height=70>Gov?t Raises Alert Level for Bird Flu</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top>

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=200 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ebebeb>
Avian influenza alerts politicians: Rep. Ahn Sang-soo, second from left, and other officials of the governing Grand National Party are briefed by Governor Kim Wan-joo, second from right, of North Jeolla Province on damage due to the spread of avian influenza in Gimje in front of a quarantine post, Wednesday. / Korea Times</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter

The government on Wednesday has raised its alert level for the avian influenza from ``Yellow (alert)'' to ``Orange (alarm).'' Therefore, all poultry raised within three kilometers of suspected Bird flu reported spots will be slaughtered.

The decision came after avian influenza was reported in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, about 70 kilometers southwest of Seoul and far away from Jeolla Area, where initial outbreaks of the virus were diagnosed on April 2. On Tuesday, the quarantine government announced a chicken farm in Pyeongtaek reported suspected Avian flu cases and decided to destroy all 338,000 chickens at nine nearby farms.

The case was confirmed as H5N1 positive but it has not been confirmed whether it is a highly virulent virus strain that is deadly to humans.

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the alarm was posted on the Jeolla area only, but since the disease is spreading at an unusually quick rate and in ``unpredictable'' ways, the warning will be extended. ``We say this weekend will be the peak of the Avian flu infection rate and we are fully set to watch over it,'' a ministry spokesman said.

The government requested nine national universities nationwide to check on ducks and vowed to tighten punishment on those who distribute poultry from restricted areas. Up to now, those who violate the rules are subject to up to a year in prison or up to a 5 million won fine.

Warning levels for such contagious disease are Blue (attention), Yellow (alert), Orange (alarm) and Red (serious). A ministry spokesman said, ``if found in other areas than Jeolla and Gyeonggi, we may consider raising it to Red.''

The quarantine authority has confirmed a total of 20 cases of highly contagious avian influenza and 37 cases reported of possible bird flu as of Wednesday. There have been 238 human deaths globally from the H5N1 strain and 376 confirmed cases of infection since 2003, according to World Health Organization data.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news...113_22627.html

**Treyfish** · April 16, 2008, 08:42 AM

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

http://english.kbs.co.kr/news/newsvi...key=2008041624<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=555 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=555 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=link_title1 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 24px" span>Gov't Sends in Troops to Help Destroy Bird Flu-Infected Fowl</TD></TR><TR><TD class=topmenu02><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Wednesday, April 16, 2008 17:06:13 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD height=20></TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=210 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD><TD width=189><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=189 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=197><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=189 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=189 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=216 bgColor=#6d7ebb height=6></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#f4f4f4><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="95%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="95%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12px" height=15 span><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12px" height=15 span><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12px" height=15 span><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12px" height=15 span><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>The Defense Ministry has sent in additional soldiers to help cull tens of thousands of fowl to stop the spread of avian influenza.

The ministry said that around 200 troops have been sent to Gimje, North Jeolla Province. The dispatch came after the government issued on Wednesday its second-highest level bird flu alert nationwide.

Military units in affected areas are mobilizing troops to help slaughter chickens and ducks.

Since April fifth, the military has set up 23 quarantine and inspection posts in various parts of North Jeolla Province, including Gimje. It has mobilized an average of 180 troops daily to help stop the spread of bird flu.

http://english.kbs.co.kr/news/newsvi...key=2008041624
</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

**Treyfish** · April 16, 2008, 08:47 AM

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=news width="50%">April 16, 2008 17:56 PM </TD><TD align=right width="50%"> </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
S. Korea Extends Bird Flu Risk Level To Second Highest Nationwide

SEOUL, April 16 (Bernama) -- South Korea has extended its avian influenza risk level to the second highest nationwide amid rising concerns bird flu could spread across the country following a series of outbreaks this month, quarantine officials was quoted by Yonhap news agency as saying on Wednesday.

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries held a livestock quarantine meeting earlier in the day and decided to extend the risk level to "orange" nationwide.

This is the second highest risk level in South Korea's four-tier alert system -- blue, yellow, orange and red -- and it has been applied previously only to the Jeolla provinces where most cases of avian influenza have been reported.

The ministry also said that it will begin conducting year-round blood serum testing at all poultry farms with the help of local universities, to detect any signs of infection early on and then take swift remedial action.

At present close monitoring and testing are conducted only from November through February.

Officials added that moves are underway to mete out tougher penalties to those who break quarantine rules, following suspicions that several farmers sold poultry distributors sick birds this year.

The series of moves come as the government is intensifying its quarantine efforts to stem the further spread of bird flu after a outbreak was confirmed in Pyeongtaek, around 70 kilometers away from Seoul on Tuesday.

The Pyeongtaek case is raising concerns that bird flu might be fast spreading nationwide.

As of Tuesday, the number of suspected or confirmed bird flu cases stood at 36, of which 20 were proven to have been linked to the highly pathogenic virus, according to the ministry.

Following an outbreak in the winter of 2003, authorities culled around 5.6 million birds, while similar outbreaks in 2006 saw about 2.8 million birds destroyed.

The National Agricultural Cooperative Federation (Nonghyup) and local poultry market associations stressed however that consumers face no serious threat to health as a result of poultry consumption.

Nonghyup said the avian virus is easily killed if exposed to heat in excess of 75 degrees celsius for more than five minutes.

It is said that if a person falls ill as a result of eating chicken or duck sold through the regular distribution chain, he or she could receive insurance payments of up to 2 billion won (US$2.02 million).

Demand for both chicken and duck meat has been falling as a result of the outbreak, with some discount outlets reporting a 14 percent drop in sales.

http://web7.bernama.com/bernama/v3/n....php?id=327181

**Treyfish** · April 16, 2008, 08:56 AM

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

AVIAN INFLUENZA (62): SOUTH KOREA, UPDATE
*****************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

*****
[1]
Date: Tue 15 Apr 2008
Source: Reuters [edited]
<http://in.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idINIndia-33048520080415>

South Korea probes new suspected bird flu cases
-----------------------------------------------
South Korea said on Tuesday [15 Apr 2008] it was investigating 4 new
suspected cases of bird flu, including one near Seoul, adding to a
string of recent outbreaks and raising concerns the disease may be
spreading across the country. In less than 2 weeks, South Korea has
confirmed 11 cases of the deadly H5N1 strain, but all have been
contained to the southwest of the country -- North and South Jeolla
provinces, some 320 km [200 miles] south of Seoul.

"We have received 4 fresh reports of suspected bird flu cases on
Monday [14 Apr 2008] and one is from a poultry farm in Pyongtaek city
in Kyonggi province," the Farm Ministry said in a statement.

The ministry said later in the day that the farm in Pyongtaek, around
60 km [37 miles] south of Seoul, was tested positive for H5 and more
detailed results would be available on Thursday [17 Apr 2008]. It
said more than 2000 birds at the farm would be slaughtered on Tuesday
and it had stopped the shipment of birds within a 10-km [6.2-mile]
radius of the affected site.

South Korea, which has culled nearly 2 million poultry this month,
said it would continue quarantine work in suspected areas and
encourage poultry consumption amid rising consumer concern. Duck and
chicken prices have dropped 10 percent this month, while chicken
sales at 4 major retailers surveyed by the ministry showed a 20
percent decline.

South Korea had 7 outbreaks of H5N1 between November 2006 and March
2007 and spent 58 billion won (USD 59.22 million) on quarantine
measures.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

******
[2]
Date: Tue 15 Apr 2008
Source: dongA.com [edited]
<http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=040000&biid=2008041515578>

Loophole in Bird Flu Quarantine
-------------------------------
Amid a series of reports regarding suspected outbreaks of the H5N1
bird flu, the government confirmed that ducks infected with the virus
had been illegally taken out from the quarantine zone. The Ministry
for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced on Monday [14
Apr 2008] that it is thoroughly investigating a possible outbreak of
the bird flu at a chicken breeding farm in Iksan, North Jeolla
Province, and a duck breeding farm in Hampyeong, South Jeolla
Province. Both cases were reported on Sunday [13 Apr 2008].

In regards to the chicken farm, doubts have risen over quarantine
management as the farm in Iksan was visited by a retail dealer who
had been in contact with bird flu-infected ducks. According to the
ministry and the Gimje Police Station, the 37-year-old dealer
identified only by his surname Park had sold the H5N1 positive ducks
to a restaurant in Geumsan-myeon, Gimje, on Saturday from a farm
located in Yongji-myeon, Gimje, which was included in the alert zone
after a suspected outbreak had been reported there.

Park bought 600 ducks from the farm between 4 and 6 Apr 2008, and
sold some 40 of them to a duck seller, identified only by his surname
Kim, who then sold them to a restaurant attached to the farm in
Gimje. The farm in question was located within the alert zone, about
1.7 km [1 mile] away from another farm where the highly pathogenic
H5N1 strain of bird flu was detected for the 1st time. Movements of
poultry have been under strict control in the area.

The probe found that Park sold 360 ducks among the remaining 560 to
some 20 restaurants in 6 cities and districts including Jeonju,
Gimje, Buan and Jeongeup, and buried the remainders. After meeting
Park, Kim visited restaurants and chicken breeding farms several
times. Among those places, the restaurant in Geumsan and the chicken
farm in Iksan have each reported suspected outbreaks of bird flu.

A total of 32 cases of suspected outbreaks of bird flu have been
either reported or found as of Monday, and 15 of them had been
confirmed so far.

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail Rapporteur Mary Marshall

[If the figures cited at the end of the above newswire -- namely 32
suspected outbreaks of which 15 already confirmed -- are correct, the
South Koreans have indeed a complex situation on their hands.

For South Korea's 3rd follow-up report on the epizootic, dated 15 Apr
2008, which includes a map, see
<http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/public.php?page=single_report&pop=1&reportid=6963>.
The epidemiological commentary says:

"Out of the 11 outbreaks observed up to date in the country, 5 were
confirmed as HPAI H5N1 subtype and 6 as HPAI H5 subtype. Disease
control measures including stamping-out have been implemented.
Furthermore, viral RNA specific for HPAI H5 subtype was detected in 9
farms during the surveillance conducted in the surveillance zone (a
10-km-radius area around each infected farm). Following the HPAI
outbreaks, all chickens and ducks in the infected farms and in the
farms in a 3-km-radius area around them were stamped out as a
precautionary measure.

"Additionally, all ducks in farms in a 3 to 10-km-radius zone around
the infected farms were stamped out. Movement restrictions on poultry
were applied in the surveillance zone. In order to investigate
whether HPAI spread out into another zone or not, the surveillance
will be enhanced all over the country. All parent stock duck farms
will be tested for HPAI and trucks which proved to stop by the
infected farm have been traced as one of the disease control
measures".

A picture of a South Korean Avian Influenza control team in action,
titled "Quarantine efforts," can be seen at
<http://english.donga.com/srv/service.php3?bicode=040000&biid=2008041636178>;
the subtext says: Despite the government's all-out effort, the highly
virulent avian influenza outbreak has continued to spread. Yesterday
[15 Apr 2008], government officials in quarantine suits went to a
farmhouse to cull and bury chickens in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province
after discovering that a chicken infected with bird flu had died". -
Mod.AS]

http://tinyurl.com/4ermp4

**HenryN** · April 16, 2008, 11:47 AM

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

Follow-up report No.: 3
Report reference: , OIE Ref: 6963, Report Date: 15/04/2008, Country: Korea (Rep. of)
Report Summary
Disease

Highly pathogenic avian influenza Animal type Terrestrial

Causal Agent

Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus Serotype(s) H5N1

Clinical Signs

Yes Reason Reoccurrence of a listed disease

Date of first confirmation of the event

03/04/2008 Date of Start of Event 01/04/2008

Date of report

15/04/2008 Date Submitted To OIE 15/04/2008

Diagnosis

Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced) Date Of Last Occurrence 06/03/2007

Number Of Reported Outbreaks

Submitted= 11, Draft= 0 Name of Sender of the report Dr Chang-Seob Kim

Address

#1, Joongang-Dong Gwacheon-city Position Director, Animal Health Division

Telephone

82-2 500 1932 Fax 82-2 504 0908

Email

cvo@maf.go.kr Entered by Dr Chang-Seob Kim

Outbreak (other report - submitted)
CHOLLA-BUKDO Yongji-myun Unit Type Location Latitude Longitude Start End

CHOLLA-BUKDO Yongji-myun Farm Kimje 35,4948 126,5912 01/04/2008