South Korea: H5N1 in Fowl/Animals, 2 April 2008 +

[Sally Furniss]

South Korea says probing suspected bird flu case



SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea is investigating a suspected bird flu outbreak at a poultry farm in the southwest of the country, the food and agriculture ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.


The strain of bird flu at the farm in Kimje, around 214 km south of Seoul, had not been identified, the ministry added.


Results of further testing should be available by early Friday, it said.
The farm, which raises 150,000 birds, has reported the death of nearly 2,400 poultry since Saturday, the ministry said.


It banned the farm from distributing poultry to other areas.
The country has had seven outbreaks of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu between November 2006 and March 2007, spending $59.17 million on quarantine measures.


In November, South Korea had discovered less a virulent strain of bird flu and culled 13,000 fowl.

http://in.reuters.com/article/worldN...32801220080402

[Sally Furniss]

Suspected bird flu case found in S Korea

Seoul (ANTARA News/Xinhua) - The South Korean government said Wednesday that a suspected case of bird flu has been discovered at a chicken farm in southwestern province of Jeollabukdo.

According to the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, preliminary tests conducted on chickens that died at the farm in Gimje city, 260 km southwest of Seoul, turned up positive for the bird flu virus.

About 150,000 chickens on the farm started dying at the farm in March and the owner reported it to the government on Monday, South Korea`s Yonhap News Agency said.

The ministry will conduct further tests to determine if the virus is a low or high virulent strain of bird flu.

South Korean quarantine authorities isolated the farm to prevent shipment of chickens or eggs. Twelve other farms nearby have been banned from sending chickens or eggs to other locations.

The latest bird flu breakout was reported in March 2007.

http://www.antara.co.id/en/arc/2008/...nd-in-s-korea/

[ironorehopper]

S. Korea finds suspected bird flu case
SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) --

A suspected case of bird flu has been discovered at a chicken farm in southwestern South Korea, the government said Wednesday.

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said preliminary tests conducted on chickens that died at the farm in Gimje, about 260 kilometers southwest of Seoul, turned up positive for the virus.

-
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news...003000320.HTML
-----

[HenryN]

Suspected Bird Flu Case Found

By Bae Ji-sook Staff Reporter A suspected case of avian influenza has been reported at a farm in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, the government said Wednesday. The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the owner of the farm reported that 150,000 poultry died suddenly on Tuesday. The ministry has conducted a preliminary test and said it has a positive diagnosis for the virus. It will announce the results of further tests to discover the strain of the bird flu on Friday. The government immediately banned the distribution of chickens and eggs from the farm and 12 others nearby. This is the first outbreak of avian influenza this year ― the last confirmed case was in March 2007. bjs@koreatimes.co.kr http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news...113_21869.html

[HenryN]

Bird flu has returned, initial tests indicate April 03, 2008

The bird flu has reappeared, according to preliminary tests, in a remote chicken farm in the southwestern part of the country. The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service ran tests at the farm yesterday in Gimje, North Jeolla, about 242 kilometers (150 miles) southwest of Seoul. The agency confirmed that chickens there carried the avian influenza virus. Another test is needed to confirm the outbreak, the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced yesterday in a press release. Chickens at the Gimje farm began to die on March 29, but the owner did not report the outbreak to quarantine authorities until Tuesday. The owner, whose name wasn¡¯t released by the ministry, breeds about 150,000 of the birds. Authorities have killed a total of 2,380 chickens at the farm to try to contain a possible outbreak. The ministry said it will reveal the results of further tests by tomorrow. If the avian influenza virus is confirmed to be a highly contagious strain, the government body will immediately take preventive measures: culling all chickens, destroying all the eggs at the farm and disinfecting the nearby area within a 500 meter (1,640 feet) radius, said Kim Yong-sang, an official of the ministry. Korea reported seven cases of bird flu between November 2006 and March 2007, leading to the culling of nearly 3 million chickens and ducks to prevent the spread of the disease, the ministry said. The strain did not get transmitted to humans. The virus has not appeared in the country since then. Bird flu has affected millions of chickens in 12 countries, but only 206 humans had died from the H5N1 strain as of last November, according to the World Health Organization. No Korean residents have been affected. By Park Sang-woo Staff Reporter [enational@joongang.co.kr] http://joongangdaily.joins.com/artic...sp?aid=2888201

[ironorehopper]

[OIE - IMMEDIATE NOTIFICATION REPORT]
-
Low pathogenic avian influenza (poultry), Korea (Rep. of)

Information received on 02/04/2008 from Dr Chang-Seob Kim, Director, Animal Health Division, Livestock Bureau , Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Gwacheon-city, Korea (Rep. of)

§ Summary
Report type Immediate notification
Start date 01/04/2008
Date of first confirmation of the event 02/04/2008
Report date 02/04/2008
Date submitted to OIE 02/04/2008
Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 11/2007
Causal agent Avian influenza virus Serotype Pending
Nature of diagnosis Suspicion, Laboratory (basic)
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country

§ New outbreaks
* Outbreak 1 - Kimje, Yongji-myun, CHOLLA-BUKDO
Date of start of the outbreak 01/04/2008
Outbreak status Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit Farm
Affected animals: Species - Susceptible - Cases - Deaths - Destroyed - Slaughtered
* Birds - 150570 - NA - 2380 - 0 - 0
Affected population a layer chicken farm

§ Summary of outbreaks
Total outbreaks: 1
Outbreak statistics: Species - Apparent morbidity rate - Apparent mortality rate - Apparent case fatality rate - Proportion susceptible animals lost*
*Birds ** - 1.58% - ** - 1.58%
* Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction and/or slaughter
** Total contains unknown quantity

§ Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection Unknown or inconclusive

§ Epidemiological comments
The chickens in the suspected farm showed inappetence and drowsiness and the fatality slowly increased from 29 March.
On 1 April, about 1,000 chickens were found dead, so the owner notified it to the local Veterinary Services.
On 1 April, a preliminary test was conducted at the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service and antibodies to avian influenza virus subtype H5 were detected.
The final diagnosis including pathogenicity index (HPAI or LPAI) is pending.
Movement restrictions are applied in the suspected farm and an epidemiological investigation is launched. The stamping out in the suspected farm is pending.

§ Control measures
Measures applied Quarantine
Movement control inside the country
Screening
Vaccination prohibited
No treatment of affected animals

Measures to be applied Stamping out
Zoning
Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
-
http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/public...&reportid=6934
-------

[HenryN]

H5 and 1000 dead birds does NOT sound like low path.

[HenryN]

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04...ea_Likely.html

[Treyfish]

Likely H5N1 on South Korean Farm

Recombinomics Commentary 16:48
April 2, 2008

The chickens in the suspected farm showed inappetence and drowsiness and the fatality slowly increased from 29 March.

On 1 April, about 1,000 chickens were found dead, so the owner notified it to the local Veterinary Services.

On 1 April, a preliminary test was conducted at the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service and antibodies to avian influenza virus subtype H5 were detected.

The final diagnosis including pathogenicity index (HPAI or LPAI) is pending.

The above comments in the OIE report filed by South Korea, suggest that the H5 detected will be H5N1. Although the title of the report includes low path avian influenza, the deaths of 1000 in 1 or 2 days suggests that the H5 antobodies will signal H5N1 infections.

Although the farm has 150,000, the short time frame between symptoms and recent deaths suggest that the virus has not had time to spread extensively.

Detection of H5N1 in this remote area would not be a surprise. South Korea lies on a migratory bird pathway, and the H5N1 detected at the end of 2006 was closely related to the Uvs Lake strain associated with the massive wild bird outbreak in the summer of 2006. Moreover, H5N1 was found in feces from areas frequented by wild birds.

Therefore, this outbreak is likely linked to wild birds migrating back to regions in northern Mongolia or southern Siberia.

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04...ea_Likely.html

[Treyfish]

Get Ready To prepare for the avian influenza

: 2008-04-02 오후 6:58:01

6:58:01 PM 2008-04-02 The doctor's chicken breeding farms Kimje avian influenza (AI) in two days, killing the authorities began to investigate dynamics. Agriculture, Forestry and Food Affairs and Fisheries jeonbukdo sanrangye 150,000, according to Foster Farms in the past 29 months beginning August 2, 2000, until our pit of the National Science and AI as a result of a thorough examination geomyeokwon doubt that the chicken was found. Concerned that the potential damage caused by large farms infected with the human body is gobyeongwonseong ileah 4, but as long as planned, the team members to prepare for the worst situation gihaeya.

Chonbuk will help livestock farmers winter 2006-2007 gobyeongwonseong AI measles, killing the game.

.

I remember the end of last month because of the special defenses sigh of relief naeswideon chayeotda period ends. Iksan hamyeol occurred in November 2006 for the first time in three AI is Chonbuk, Chungnam three times, including seven times in the game, killing a lot of damage to them. Among them, only 273 farms in Jeonbuk 106 million gireudeon Marie ducks to chickens, pigs and salcheobunhaetda 447.

.

Once again, but this time ttaeneutge will be taken in an emergency.
Last month, the UN's global AI large family need to know if anyone 10 to select issues to be solved as long as the human race is one gwajejung. AI for the United Nations, "first appeared in 2003 after a jeonyeomdoel urgent measures are not likely to disappear. Recently expanded to China and Southeast Asia and East Asia, a threat to South Korea, the cure rate is 3 percent reserve, ready motmichineun soholhada, "he pointed out.
AI is expanding fast enough to speed up, and he imagined chowolhal various variants of the virus to develop a vaccine because it can not be complete. This is more than anyone ppyeojeorige jeonbukdo experienced AI suspected migratory gamyeomwon nalahdeuneun since last November has helped to install and gaksi emergency military duty, the Dispatch has been unfolding. AI Iksan occurred and arrived at Geumgang haguduk Kimje, and migratory birds, including 10 Kimje mangyeonggang dongjingang place and the special administrative region and set yechal bunbyeon intensive inspection, disinfection in the Middle East.
After the conclusion of the AI jeobyeongwonseongeuro glad the doctor would yigeteuna gobyeongwonseong problem is not serious yeogan. Part of the farm food nongsusan in limiting the movement of eggs and chickens in the investigation into dynamics, but is not part soholhan to look closely. The government and jeonbukdo, Gimje authorities, as well as the relationship between farmers and breeders are also nervous residents want to let go of the string. http://209.85.135.104/translate_c?hl...6dt%3D20080403

[Treyfish]

AI raised yongjiseo doctors Kimje

: 2008-04-02 오후 8:27:16

One of the poultry farms in the paper two days Kimje are suspected of being infected with avian influenza cases have occurred in the middle of the civil servants in charge of defenses to engage in ..../

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Department and the Food and breaking news = jeonbukdo defenses authorities on April 2, the paper's Y Chonbuk gimjesi breeding farm in the National daleseo AI virus can be detected as a thorough examination of science geomyeokwon the commission said.
. Sanrangye 150,000 to the farm ... stereo, which is the current five-day period beginning June 29, 2380 our chickens. . On April 29, 300 to 380, starting with the 30th, the 31st 400, the 1st 1000, two days was 2,380, including 300 dead went.

. Livestock Research Institute of Hygiene and one day in the field for gageommul pyesahan chicken liver and inspection, examination, the doctor AI as a result of the decision.

Of the National Science geomyeokwon current dynamics of the survey asked whether the four ilkke gobyeongwonseong results jeobyeongwonseonginji final decision is expected to come out.

This farm, "in the bathroom ammonia gas that leaked from the causes of our collective," denying gobyeongwonseong AI.

In addition, even fewer number of our chickens, AI, considering that typically occurs in winter, jeobyeongwonseongil highly likely to be raised.

However, a large number of our chickens, where the virus is detected AI gobyeongwonseong situation can not rule out the possibility that cause. Turning gobyeongwonseong AI decision, in preparation of the farm, while limiting the movement of chickens and eggs, for a precise investigation to identify the cause of yesterday. Gimje 2:00 pm the same day, 15 in the Situation Room Floor yugwangigwan Joint Council held an emergency livestock defenses in the country, including measures.

. Yiwagwanryeon, paper and the one in the chicken breeding farms "that occurred last year, AI is still a nightmare, what seonhande nalbyeorak or eyes," "the already difficult conditions in the poultry farms are suffering, we suffer the hell are you talking about WHAT DO," said the head tteolgwotda.

Another breeding farms, "AI occurred last year, when administration officials and activities of the best defenses in yugwangigwan again, but it could only mean AI," "I have to see the final results are listed, but please ahnigil giwonhal AI is the only" catch my breath a sigh.
http://209.85.135.104/translate_c?hl=en&langpair=ko%7Cen&u=http://www.jjan.kr/society/others/default.asp%3Fst%3D2%26newsid%3D2008040220271601%2 6dt%3D20080403

[Treyfish]

Avian influenza caused doctors jeonbukseo

Emergency measures to promote switching defenses, the emergency system defenses

2008년 04월 02일 (수) Wednesday, April 2, 2008 김석주 기자 Gimseokju reporter sjview Sjview

Jeju special autonomy in the farmhouse, on August 2, Jeonbuk gimjesi sanrangye avian influenza occurs, as an emergency doctor scheme to switch defenses, defenses emergency measures to promote the launch. The administration is also active in the city turning siheomso shut down until the situation gujeyeok Emergency Dispatch and Emergency Dispatch concurrently with the avian influenza, an emergency system to switch defenses. The avian influenza is turning doctors into gobyeongwonseong avian influenza cases panjeongdoel that all poultry and poultry product imports from Chonbuk about gihae decision on the import ban. Turning to the farm with poultry farmers to thoroughly clean the inside and outside of the block and to strengthen defenses pyesayul to increase or decrease the sanranyul defenses institutions to immediately report if asked to do.

http://209.85.135.104/translate_c?hl...idxno%3D198890

[Treyfish]

AI… chickens raised our 2300 yeomari Chonbuk gimjeseo

입력: 2008년 04월 02일 17:46:24 Input: April 2, 2008 17:46:24

ㆍ당국 긴급 역학조사 Emergency authorities investigate and mechanics . The doctor's chicken breeding farm in Kimje Chonbuk avian influenza (AI) research and precision mechanics authorities are investigating the killing began. . AI is concerned that human infections precision survey gobyeongwonseong higher than the migratory sigisang be resolved if China, and other Southeast Asian countries who have been infected with the possibility of moving along the path to higher authorities tension defenses. Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of the Food and wealth, the paper two days Chonbuk gimjesi sanrangye breeding farm about 15 manmarireul Foster of the National Science geomyeokwon tests found chickens suspected AI said. Last month, 29th day, until the chicken farm in 2380 is our year. The government reported last one day assume the inspection, conducted as a result of that day in geomyeokwon chajeokeuro doctors decided to AI. Rapid propagation of the human infections are highly concerned about whether gobyeongwonseong AI will be as long as 4 days dawn. AI gobyeongwonseong March 6 of last year, has not been found since that occurred in Cheonan. The government is to prepare for the onset gobyeongwonseong AI decision to limit the movement of eggs and chickens in the farm mechanics investigation began. The farm raised chicken with salcheobun sunk ready for the workforce hangbayireoseuje medication to prepare defenses. Capt. nongsusan sikpumbu gimchangseop animal defenses, "Una young yedanki low sanranyul do pyesayul greatly diminished the possibility of an AI gobyeongwonseong delayed due to the high point, it appears," he said.

http://translate.google.com/translat...&hl=en&ie=UTF8

[HenryN]

SKorea starts culling poultry amid suspected outbreak of bird flu

The Associated Press
Thursday, April 3, 2008
SEOUL, South Korea: South Korean quarantine officials will slaughter 150,000 poultry at a chicken farm as a precaution following an outbreak of bird flu, an official said Thursday.
The outbreak earlier this week in Gimje, about 260 kilometers (160 miles) south of Seoul, was caused by an H5 avian influenza virus, said Lee Sung-jae, head of the quarantine bureau at the North Jeolla provincial government.
Further tests were underway on whether the case involves a dangerous strain of bird flu, Lee said. Results were expected by Friday. Several strains of H5 bird flu typically circulate in poultry, but the one known as H5N1 has caused worldwide concern because it can infect humans.
Lee said the slaughter is a precaution to keep the disease from spreading in case it is a dangerous bird flu strain. He added that there are about 1.6 million chickens within a three-kilometer (1.8 mile) radius of the suspected outbreak site.
The H5N1 virus surfaced at a separate quail farm in Gimje in 2006, prompting the slaughter of some 360,000 quails and chickens.
South Korea killed 8 million birds during outbreaks of bird flu in 2003 and 2006.
More than 230 people worldwide have died from bird flu since 2003. So far, most human cases have been linked to contact with infected poultry.
Bird flu remains hard for people to catch, but health experts worry the virus could mutate into a form that passes easily among humans, possibly triggering a pandemic.

http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=11638637

[HenryN]

Location of farm

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...678162&t=h&z=9

http://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/report...402_162348.pdf

[Commonground]

He added that there are about 1.6 million chickens within a three-kilometer (1.8 mile) radius of the suspected outbreak site.

Can you actually fit that many chickens in? Can't imagine this.

[HenryN]

Originally Posted by Commonground

Can you actually fit that many chickens in? Can't imagine this.

That's 10 square miles, which would just be 1 farm per square mile the size of the index farm (150,000 birds).

[HenryN]

South Korea says bird flu outbreak was H5N1 strain: report



By Wallace Witkowski
Last update: 11:27 a.m. EDT April 3, 2008








SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- South Korea agriculture officials have identified a recent bird flu outbreak in the country as being the deadly H5N1 strain, The Associated Press reported Thursday. More than 300,000 chickens on a farm about 160 miles south of Seoul need to be slaughtered, the AP said. No human infections were reported.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/stor...&dist=printTop

[ironorehopper]

S Korea confirms bird flu outbreak
SEOUL, April 3 (Xinhua) --

South Korean government said Thursday that it has confirmed a virulent bird flu outbreak in southwestern city of Gimje.

According to the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the cause of outbreak taking place at an egg-laying farm in Gimje, 260 km south of Seoul, was confirmed as the H5N1 strain of the avian influenza.

The ministry said it will cull and bury 308,000 chickens within500 meters from the farm. All eggs from the seven farms in the neighborhood will also be buried to prevent any spread of the disease.

The ministry said that all movement of 3.57 million chickens and ducks being raised in 265 farms within a 10-km radius will be halted for the time being.

Quarantine authorities said that eggs from the farm will be recalled and buried as an extra precaution.

There have been no cases of people getting sick from eggs.

The ministry said the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service will conduct a probe into why the outbreak occurred, while the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention will be placed on standby in case of human infection.

The owner of the farm reported the outbreak early this week after about 3,000 chickens at the farm start dying late last month.

The farm has 150,000 chickens that produce 100,000 eggs per day and the eggs are sold nationwide, South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported.

The latest outbreak of virulent strain of the bird flu disease in South Korea was reported in March 2007.


Editor: Mu Xuequan
-
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/20...nt_7914019.htm
------

[FrenchieGirl]

(Just received through email - Korea outbreak is the HP type) https://www.oie.int/wahid-prod/repor...404_121508.pdf

Highly pathogenic avian influenza, Korea (Rep. of)

Information received on 04/04/2008 from Dr Chang-Seob Kim, Director, Animal Health Division, Livestock Bureau , Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Gwacheon-city, Korea (Rep. of)

Summary

Report type Follow-up report No. 1
Start date 01/04/2008
Date of first confirmation of the event 03/04/2008
Report date 04/04/2008
Date submitted to OIE 04/04/2008
Reason for notification Reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence 06/2007
Causal agent Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus
Serotype H5N1
Nature of diagnosis Laboratory (basic), Laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country
Outbreaks There are no new outbreaks in this report

EpidemiologySource of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection Unknown or inconclusive

Epidemiological comments The avian influenza suspected case reported to the OIE on 2 April was confirmed as highly pathogenic avian influenza subtype H5N1 by the final diagnostic test (RT-PCR).
The chickens reared in the affected farm as well as in the 500-metres-radius zone around it will be culled, and the potentially contaminated stuff, such as eggs, kept in farms in the zone will be destroyed.
Additionally, movement restrictions are applied on the chicken/duck raising farms in the 10-km-radius zone around the affected farm and control measures including disinfection will be intensified in poultry farms across the country.
The central epidemiological investigating team was dispatched into the zone and has been conducting the investigation.

Control measuresMeasures applied Stamping out
Quarantine
Movement control inside the country
Screening
Zoning
Vaccination prohibited
No treatment of affected animals

Measures to be applied Disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)

[Treyfish]

SKorea culls thousands of chickens to fight bird flu outbreak
Posted: 04 April 2008 1521 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 South Korean health officials carry samples of bird flu-infected chickens

SEOUL: South Korea has started culling thousands of chickens after an outbreak of bird flu was confirmed to be the deadly H5N1 strain, officials said on Friday.

To determine the origin of the virus, officials were taking blood samples from the chickens, migratory birds and foreign workers at the infected farm in Gimje, 260 kilometres (162 miles) south of Seoul.

Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong suspended imports of uncooked chicken from South Korea but exports of cooked birds will not be affected, the agriculture ministry said.

The ministry said 270,000 chickens at five farms, the affected one and four others within a 500 metre radius, will be culled and buried along with all eggs in the area.

"The culling of chickens is underway," Kim Chang-Seob, chief veterinary officer of the ministry, told AFP.

The ministry has also imposed restrictions on the movement of chickens and ducks within a 10-kilometre (six-mile) radius.

Kim noted that all outbreaks in the past occurred in the winter months from November to March but the current case erupted in early spring.

This makes health authorities suspect the virus might have been transmitted either by migrating birds or foreign workers who recently came from Mongolia, Vietnam and China where avian flu outbreaks have been reported, he said.

"The infected farm hires 11 foreign workers who came from Mongolia, Vietnam and China...we are taking their blood samples," Kim said.

About 2,400 chickens out of about 150,000 birds on the farm died between Saturday and Tuesday. The owner began reporting the deaths to health authorities on Monday.

Authorities immediately sealed off the location and barred any shipment of chickens or eggs to and from the farm, as well as to 12 other nearby farms.

The last time a virulent strain was reported in South Korea was in March 2007.

South Korea reported seven cases of infection by the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu between November 2006 and March last year, resulting in the temporary suspension of poultry exports to Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and elsewhere.

But last June the World Organisation for Animal Health classified the country free from the disease.

The H5N1 strain of bird flu has killed more than 230 people worldwide since late 2003. No South Koreans have contracted the disease.

Experts fear the virus, which is usually spread directly from birds to humans, could mutate into a form easily transmissible between people and spark a deadly global pandemic.
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...339312/1/.html

[HappyCamper]

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...0404?hub=World

S. Korea slaughters chickens after bird flu outbreakUpdated Fri. Apr. 4 2008 6:56 AM ET

The Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea -- Quarantine workers have destroyed more than 100,000 chickens in South Korea following the first outbreak of a deadly strain of bird flu in the country in more than a year, an official said Friday.


The Agriculture Ministry plans to speed up the operation to complete the slaughter of some 308,000 chickens near the outbreak site as soon as possible, said ministry official Kim Chang-sup.


The outbreak in Gimje, 257 kilometres south of Seoul, was the first bird flu case involving the lethal H5N1 strain in South Korea since March last year.


Authorities have also banned any unauthorized movement of about 3.6 million poultry on 265 farms within ten kilometres of the outbreak site as a precaution until those birds can be tested for the virus, Kim said.


Seven outbreaks of the deadly virus hit poultry farms across South Korea between November 2006 and March 2007, resulting in the slaughter of about 2.8 million birds.


South Korea declared itself free of bird flu in June last year after reporting no new outbreaks for three months.


At least 238 people worldwide have died from bird flu since 2003, according to the World Health Organization. So far, most human cases have been linked to contact with infected poultry.


Bird flu remains hard for people to catch, but health experts worry the virus could mutate into a form that passes easily among humans, possibly triggering a pandemic.

[Treyfish]

No Bird Flu Case in Humans

2008-04-04 16:14:30

A state disease control center says no human infections are suspected after an outbreak of bird flu in Gimje, North Jeolla Province. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said Friday that it interviewed and took blood samples from 15 people working at the poultry farm where the bird flu was detected. The center said no one had fever or coughs, or other symptoms of infection. The KCDC has also taken preventive measures by providing anti-viral drugs and masks for about 260 people including quarantine officials and others who live near the farm.

http://world.kbs.co.kr/english/news/...l.htm?No=53650

[Treyfish]

Government probing bird flu outbreak
	The government said that it is trying to determine the cause of an outbreak of bird flu at a poultry farm in the southwest coast of the country. The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said blood samples of the infected birds from the farm, located 260 kilometers south of Seoul, and those from 11 foreign workers from China, Vietnam and Mongolia have been taken for analysis. It said quarantine officials are also collecting blood samples from migratory birds at a nearby river where a duck was found to be carrying an anti-body to the H5N1 virus late last year. "The test will help determine the exact sub-type of the H5N1 virus that killed off the chickens at the farm," said Kim Chang-seob, the ministry's chief veterinary officer. He said quarantine officials who took part in the culling of the birds at the Gimje farm will also be tested to make certain they were not inadvertently affected. "At present, it is impossible to say how the birds were infected," the expert said. He added that it may take a few days to know the exact sub-strain of the latest avian influenza outbreak. In the 2003-2004 and 2006-2007 outbreaks the H5N1 viruses were determined to have been the northern strain. Most of the human deaths that occurred were linked to another virulent strain that broke out in Southeast Asia. 2008.04.04

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/

[HenryN]

Avian flu strain has the potential to infect humans Ministry confirms the outbreak, but Koreans have never been infected April 05, 2008

Quarantine officials in protective suits pull chickens out of cages at a poultry farm in Gimje, North Jeolla yesterday to slaughter them to try to contain the outbreak of avian influenza. The farm in the photo is located within 3 kilometers of the site of the initial outbreak, reported Tuesday. [NEWSIS] Confirming the outbreak of a deadly bird flu with the potential to infect humans, the government yesterday began destroying more than 300,000 chickens inside a quarantined zone in Gimje, North Jeolla. The case, first reported Tuesday at a poultry farm in Gimje, was caused by the highly contagious strain of the virus called H5N1, according to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry. The ministry said 308,000 chickens at the site of the outbreak and at six farms located within a 500-meter (1,640-feet) radius of it will be slaughtered as soon as possible. The first H5N1 outbreak occurred in Korea in 2003 and there has never been a human infection here. None were reported yesterday, either, an agricultural ministry in charge of the disinfection said yesterday on condition of anonymity. The virus has killed 207 people in 12 other countries since November 2007, according to World Health Organization data. ¡°The reported 360 human infections happened in countries where the levels of disinfection and quarantining are poor,¡± the official said. ¡°We are successfully isolating the virus.¡± An anti-virus was given to 500 workers who are destroying the birds and disinfecting the farms. Health Minister Kim Soung-yee visited the site of the outbreak yesterday to check on the prevention of human infections. The last time the H5N1 strain hit Korea was in 2006, about 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) from the site of the most recent outbreak. At that farm, four excavators dug a hole yesterday to bury the slaughtered chickens. The owner of the farm, who asked to be identified only as Mr. Yu, said 2,300 chickens there have died in the past week. The 150,000 chickens at Yu¡¯s farm were ordered to be slaughtered as soon as possible as a preventative measure. Disinfection and preparations for chicken culling also continued in the nearby village of Sinam. ¡°I raised my 40,000 chickens, treating them as if they were my own children,¡± a farmer who declined to be identified said with a sigh. ¡°I can¡¯t believe I just have to bury them.¡± North Jeolla said its 500 workers will finish the slaughter by today. Eggs produced at farms located within 3 kilometers of the site of the outbreak will be destroyed as a part of the containment efforts, the ministry said. In addition, none of the 3.57 million birds in the 265 farms within a 10-kilometer radius of the farm will be allowed to leave the area, at least temporarily. The ministry also warned poultry farms nationwide to heighten their disinfecting operations. Checkpoints were set up on roads linking North Jeolla to other provinces. Jeju¡¯s provincial government said poultry shipments from the mainland had been banned as of yesterday. South Chungcheong, where poultry farms have suffered 12 billion won ($12.3 million) in damages from bird flu outbreaks since 2006, began an emergency preventive plan to heighten disinfection inside the province. The outbreak also affected the stock market. The price of Harim, the nation¡¯s largest poultry supplier, fell 1.2 percent, closing at 2,065 won, while the share price of fishery suppliers and vaccine makers increased. By Ser Myo-ja Staff Reporter [myoja@joongang.co.kr] http://joongangdaily.joins.com/artic...sp?aid=2888293

[Shiloh]

Outbreak of AI May Seriously Affects Korean Chicken Industry

APRIL 05, 2008 04:03


An outbreak of avian influenza (AI) in Gimje, North Jeolla Province has blocked Korean farms from exporting raw chicken.

The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said on Friday, “Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong, three major importers of Korean chicken and Korean style chicken soup, Samgyetang, informed us that they would continue to import Samgyetang but stop importing raw chicken.”

The Korean chicken export ban comes after eight months when Korea regained AI-free status last June. A country can regain AI-free status if the disease does not break out for more than three months after chicken cull.

Expecting huge potential damage to farmers, the Korean government has already decided to hand out half of the compensation for the culled chicken.

“I directed the payment for 50 percent of the average chicken price to farmers as soon as the affected regions end their cull,” said Kim Chang-seop, team director for animal disease prevention under the ministry. “Around 70 billion won is available for culling and I allocated 10 billion won to North Jeolla Province.”

Once the precise figure comes up as the region is disinfected, the ministry will pay the rest of the compensation accordingly. The ministry estimates some 4.8 billion won is required for the scheduled culling of chicken and disposing of eggs.

The ministry first announced that 308,000 chickens would be slaughtered, but revised the number to 270,000 given the geography and organization.

As for the transmission path, the ministry said, “We are investigating possibilities that transmission came from migratory birds or workers from Southeast Asia.”

“Eleven foreign workers from Mongolia, Vietnam and China were working on the farm where the latest outbreak of AI occurred. As foreign workers often meet other workers from their homeland, we are looking into whether any of them were infected with the virus through a serum test,” said Kim.

Chicken processing firms are nervous as well.

Kim Dae-shik, public relations chief of Harim, a chicken-processing company, said, “The farm where AI broke out is a farm for eggs, not chicken. But just in case, we stood up an emergency center and passed on safety guidelines for farms that provide us with chicken.”

[HenryN]

The South Korean government said Friday that it is trying to determine the cause of an outbreak of bird flu at a poultry farm in the southwest coast of the country.

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said blood samples of the infected birds from the farm, located 260 kilometers south of Seoul, and those from 11 foreign workers from China, Vietnam and Mongolia have been taken for analysis. It said quarantine officials are also collecting blood samples from migratory birds at a nearby river, where a duck was found to be carrying an anti-body to the H5N1 virus late last year.


"The test will help determine the exact sub-type of the H5N1 virus that killed the chickens at the egg-laying farm," said Kim Chang-seob, the ministry's chief veterinary officer.

He said quarantine officials who took part in culling birds at the Gimje farm will also be tested to make certain they were not inadvertently affected.

"At present, it is impossible to say how the birds were infected," the expert said. He added that it may take a few days to know the exact sub-strain of the latest avian influenza outbreak.

In the 2003-2004 and 2006-2007 outbreaks, the H5N1 viruses were determined to have been the northern strain. Most of the human deaths that occurred were linked to another virulent strain that broke out in Southeast Asia.

All outbreaks in the past occurred in the winter months, from November to March.

Kim said that Seoul has already reported the outbreak to the World Organization for Animal Health.

"We expect that chicken meat sales will be halted, but have received notice that countries like Taiwan and Japan will not ban the import of canned chicken with ginseng soup," the official said.

The quarantine official, meanwhile, said that 151,000 chickens raised on the farm were in the process of being culled and buried to prevent secondary infections.

In addition, he said 270,000 birds within a 500-meter radius of the farm will be destroyed, along with the eggs produced.

The government expects to pay compensation totaling 4.8 billion won (US$4.92 million) for the birds and eggs destroyed.

"Compared to the past, the quick reporting by the owner of the farm has probably helped prevent the spread of the virus, which is usually transmitted by people and vehicles," Kim said. A small number of birds started dying from March 29, with the report being made on April 1 after large numbers of birds started to die.

He said a quarantine line with a 10-kilometer radius has been set up around the farm, with all movement of chickens, ducks and eggs banned for the time being.

"If there are any signs of the bird flu spreading beyond the first perimeter, authorities will immediately take steps to cull more birds," he said.

The ministry, meanwhile, said it is in the process of determining the cause of the sudden deaths of birds at a duck farm in Jeongeup, south of Gimje in North Jeolla Province.

Of the 10,000 ducks on the farm, half have died since Monday, with quarantine official conducting tests on the dead birds.

It said preliminary examinations indicated that the animals died from a "common" virus that affects ducks, but that is not a form of the deadly bird influenza. However, it will take a few days to confirm the exact cause of the deaths.
SEOUL, April 4 (Yonhap)

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/engli...al/280094.html

[Shiloh]

Source: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/busi...01200320F.HTML

Bird flu discovered in southern S. Korea

혻 혻 SEOUL, April 5 (Yonhap) -- A case of bird flu has been discovered at a duck farm in southwestern South Korea, just three days after an outbreak was confirmed at a chicken farm in the same region, the government said Saturday.

혻 혻 The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said preliminary tests conducted on ducks that died earlier in the week at the farm in Jeongeup, about 250 kilometers southwest of Seoul, turned up positive for the H5N1 bird flu virus.

혻혻 Of the 10,000 ducks on the farm, half have died since Monday.The farm is located 27 kilometers away from a chicken farm that was hit by avian influenza earlier this week.

혻혻 The ministry said that further tests will be needed to determine if the virus is a low or high virulent strain of bird flu.

혻 혻 The quarantine official said that the remaining ducks raised on the farm were in the process of being culled and buried, with all poultry livestock within a 10 kilometer radius of the farm restricted from being transported.

혻혻 The last time a virulent strain of the bird flu was reported in the country was in March 2007. There have been several cases of mild strains discovered in the past few months.

혻혻 odissy@yna.co.kr

[HenryN]

Originally Posted by Shiloh

Source: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/busi...01200320F.HTML

Bird flu discovered in southern S. Korea


혻혻 The ministry said that further tests will be needed to determine if the virus is a low or high virulent strain of bird flu.

혻혻 odissy@yna.co.kr

5,000 of 10,000 DUCKS are dead at a farm close to a farm with confirmed H5N1. Ducks don't die from low path.

These media reports are well into the absurd category.

[sharon sanders]

Originally Posted by niman

5,000 of 10,000 DUCKS are dead at a farm close to a farm with confirmed H5N1. Ducks don't die from low path.

These media reports are well into the absurd category.

It is good that these reports are posted so that we can debate them.

Thanks Shiloh.