# 2015
Three months after it began, South Korea has sounded the all-clear over the bird flu outbreaks that spread across that nation in April. The last reported outbreak was in mid-May, and so if no further outbreaks occur, that nation will be declare `bird-flu free' in mid August.
Of course, in countries previously affected by bird flu, being declared free of the virus is often just a transitory phase.
Interestingly, South Korea is laying the blame for the outbreak on `migratory birds or foreign workers and tourists who visited China or Vietnam'.
This is curious because no explanation for why a possible human vector might be suspected has been provided. Migratory birds, of course, are often mentioned as possible vectors.
This from the Straits Times.
June 30, 2008
S. Korea lifts all restrictions imposed in wake of bird flu outbreaks
SEOUL - SOUTH KOREA has lifted restrictions imposed to curb an outbreak of bird flu which led to the culling of more than eight million birds, the agriculture ministry said on Monday.
It said curbs on the movement of birds, people and vehicles were lifted in all districts hit by avian flu as of Sunday.
South Korea has culled more than eight million birds since April 1. This year's outbreak is the country's worst with damage estimated at 200 billion won (S$260 million).
No confirmed case has been reported since May 12, the ministry said.
'If no new cases are reported, we will declare the country free of the disease in August,' a ministry spokesman said.
In the country's 2003-2004 outbreak 5.28 million birds were culled, while a 2006-2007 outbreak resulted in 2.8 million birds being destroyed.
South Korea hopes to proclaim itself free of the disease in mid-August and report it to the World Organisation for Animal Health, according to the ministry.
Under the organisation's regulations, a country can officially declare itself free of the disease if no new cases of bird flu have been found for three months.
The ministry said it suspected this year's bird flu outbreak was caused by migratory birds or foreign workers and tourists who visited China or Vietnam.
Curious, indeed.
