# 2004
In a sign that the South Korean bird flu outbreak (now approaching its 7th week) continues to spread. soldiers have once again been called upon to cull poultry. Early in April soldiers took part in the culling, but were withdrawn after a soldier was suspected of having contracted the H5N1 virus.
That soldier, Corporal Cho, was ultimately declared not to have been infected by the bird flu virus - but that was after three weeks in isolation. No explanations have been offered for the early news reports that said the Corporal had test positive twice for the virus.
Over the weekend, the South Korean government again committed troops to the fight against the virus.
This from Radio Australia.
South Korean soldiers assist in bird flu cull
South Korea has mobilised soldiers for the second time to help battle an outbreak of bird flu.
Officials say about 200 soldiers helped kill more than 310,000 chickens and other poultry in the south-eastern city of Yangsan.
South Korea has been battling its latest outbreak of avian flu since April 1 and more than 7 million poultry have been culled.
The agriculture ministry has since reported 42 cases of bird flu at 33 places around the country.
The minstry says no human infections have been confirmed in South Korea even though the H5N1 virus has killed more than 240 people worldwide since late 2003.
