Credit U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
# 8179
In 2011 South Korea fought a protracted, and very expensive battle against the spread of the H5N1 virus in their poultry farms. An outbreak that by mid February of that year had resulted in the culling of over 5.5 million birds across 249 farms in response to at least 43 reported outbreaks of the virus (see South Korea: Two New Bird Flu Outbreaks Reported).
The OIE map below depicts 46 bird flu reports (includes wild birds & poultry) between the fall of 2010 and February of 2011 in South Korea, showing just how extensive the spread was.
While this outbreak was eventually contained, the assumed source of the infection (see Korea: Migratory Birds Behind Spread Of H5N1) continue to carry and shed the virus as they make their yearly migrations from China, Mongolia, and Siberia in the summer to Japan and Korea in the winter.
Improved biosecurity efforts helped to protect poultry operations in both South Korea and Japan in the past couple of years, but today we learn of a new outbreak in South Korea (presumably H5N1, but not yet officially determined), which has set into motion an extensive eradication and containment operation.
This from the Korea Herald.
AI outbreak confirmed at local farm
Published : 2014-01-17 20:43
Quarantine officials confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza at a local poultry farm located some 300 kilometers south of Seoul on Friday. It is the first case of a bird flu in two years and eight months confirmed by authorities here.
Quarantine authorities ordered a culling of more than 20,000 ducks in Gochang-gun, North Jeolla Province, as the waterfowl were detect to be infected with a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza. Officials said they have begun investigating the causes of the outbreak.
“It’s uncertain yet but it’s assumed to be excreta of a flock of birds, which were reported to have flown over the farm on Jan. 6,” said a quarantine official.
The case was reported on Thursday when some ducks showed a sharp drop in spawning rate, which is one of the common symptoms of bird flu, officials said.
North Jeolla Provincial Government restricted access to the affected farm and surrounding areas. It also ordered quarantine officers to take preventive measures immediately.
