Maps via Japan’s MAFF Website - http://www.maff.go.jp/j/syouan/douei/tori/
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The pair of maps above illustrate the spread of suspected & confirmed poultry & wild bird H5N8 detections in Korea over the Lunar New Year’s (Seollal) Holiday weekend, with Yonhap News now reporting 40 confirmed cases – up from 27 on Saturday.
Although primarily known as a low pathogenic avian virus (see CIDRAP 2008 Low-pathogenic avian flu hits Idaho game farm), at least one detection of H5N8 in an HPAI form was recorded in China in 2009-10 (see Characterization of three H5N5 and one H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses in China).
But until Korea’s outbreak which began just over two weeks ago, we’d never seen an outbreak of the HPAI form in domesticated birds. Thus far, we’ve seen no evidence of human infection with this virus, but given the history of its H5N1 cousin, poultry workers & cullers are using protective gear and operating under high biosecurity standards.
This update from KBS (Korean Broadcasting System).
New Case of AI Detected in N. Chuncheong Province
Write : 2014-02-03 16:10:15 Update : 2014-02-03 17:00:46
Authorities are investigating an additional case of bird flu detected in South Korea's central region.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Monday it detected the H5N8 strain of avian influenza (AI) at a duck farm in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province. The ministry added it is conducting tests to determine whether it is a highly pathogenic strain.
The ministry also said chickens suspected of carrying the disease in Busan and North Jeolla Province over the holiday were likely just suffering from dehydration and respiratory illnesses.
It said although the virus has not yet spread to other farms in Jincheon, it will continue strong quarantine measures for vehicles coming and going from area poultry farms.
So far, avian influenza has been detected at 39 farms across the country, resulting in the culling of around two-point-six million ducks and chickens at 115 farms.
Eighteen of roughly 170 migratory birds found dead around South Korea have tested positive for the highly pathogenic strain of the disease.
