Updated Outbreak Map – Credit http://www.maff.go.jp
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The headline from Yonhap news says it all, as Korea’s attempts to contain their HPAI outbreak have – thus far, anyway – failed to achieve their goals.
Bird flu spreads north, outbreak confirmed in Gyeonggi Province
2014/01/30 14:30
SEJONG, Jan. 30 (Yonhap) -- A bird flu case has been confirmed at a chicken farm in Gyeonggi Province the government said Thursday, a disturbing sign that all-out quarantine efforts are having limited impact.
The agriculture ministry said that tests showed a chicken breeding farm in Hwaseong came up positive for the H5 strain of avian influenza (AI) that is sweeping parts of the country. Past cases have been restricted to the Jeolla and Chuncheong region in the country's southwestern region.
"At present we are trying to determine if the latest case is a virulent AI strain," a ministry source said. He said that all poultry within a three-kilometer radius of the affected farm have been culled as a preventative measure.
This is the first time that a bird flu case has been detected so far north.
The Gyeonggi region that surrounds the capital city of Seoul is home to the largest number of chicken farms in the country.
Another report, this time from Channel News Asia, indicates H5N8 virus has been confirmed in Gyeonggi.
South Korea's Lunar New Year marred by bird flu worries
SEOUL: South Korea has confirmed its latest case of H5N8 bird flu virus in a chicken farm in Gyeonggi province, home to the capital Seoul, despite quarantine efforts including the expansion of a poultry cull in the country.
No human infection has been reported yet, but there are rising concerns that the virus could spread further after the Lunar New Year holidays.
Meanwhile, Hong Kong – which is already battling the H7N9 avian virus - has announced the suspension of poultry imports from parts South Korea.
HK bans import of poultry products from parts of Korea
The Centre for Food Safety (CFS) of the Food and Environmental Hygiene Department announced today (January 30) that, in view of a notification from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) that outbreaks of highly pathogenic H5N8 avian influenza in South Chung Cheong Do and South Jeolla Do of Korea, it has banned the import of poultry meat and products (including poultry eggs) from the two areas with immediate effect for the protection of Hong Kong's public and animal health.
A CFS spokesman said about 5 000 tonnes of frozen and chilled poultry meat, as well as about 4.9 million poultry eggs, were imported into Hong Kong from Korea between January and November last year.
An import ban on the same items from North Jeolla Do, Korea, has been in effect since mid-January and is still in force, he added.
"We will be in close liaison with the Korean authorities over the issue and will closely monitor information issued by the OIE on the avian influenza outbreaks in the country. Appropriate action will be taken in response to the development of the situation," the spokesman said.
Ends/Thursday, January 30, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:15
For earlier reports on Korea’s HPAI outbreak, including background on the virus and the debate over how it was introduced into Korea, you may wish to revisit:
Korea: H5N8 Spreads, Debate Over Source Intensifies
Korea: Migratory Birds Likely Source Of H5N8 Outbreak
H5N8: Korea Testing More Migratory Birds
A Little More On South Korea’s H5N8 Poultry Outbreak
