#11,919
Not unexpectedly, after two reports of HPAI H5N6's detection in the wild (see South Korea: 2nd Detection Of H5N6, AI Suspected At Haenam Poultry Farm) earlier this week, the news overnight is that two poultry farms in South Korea have now tested positive for the H5N6 virus and culling operations are underway.
First, this report from Arirang News.
Korea confirms first outbreaks of H5N6 bird flu at poultry farms
Updated: 2016-11-18 16:26:04 KST
Korea's first outbreaks of bird flu caused by the H5N6 virus have been reported at a two poultry farms in the central and southern parts of the country.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, more than 62-thousand ducks have been culled to stop the spread of the virus, and vehicles are being stopped from coming within three kilometers of the farms.
The two farms are located in Eumseong County, Chuncheongbuk-do Province and Haenam, Jeollanam-do Province.
The agriculture ministry reported last week that the virus had been detected in the droppings of migratory birds.
H5N6 has been found in several Asian countries and has led to at least six deaths in China.
Much as we are seeing with the recent surge of H5N8 in Europe, H5N6 appears to be spreading via migratory birds and expanding its geographic range.
Until this past week, the H5N6 virus had only been reported in China, and to a lesser extent, Vietnam and Laos.
And as I'll report in my next blog, today we also have confirmation of its arrival in Japan.
