( SEJONG, Jan. 17 (Yonhap) -- The South Korean
government on Friday announced an outbreak of avian influenza at a local
farm, saying that a DNA test has confirmed ducks on the farm were
infected with a highly pathogenic form of the virus.
"Poultry deaths at the farm were caused by a highly
virulent strain of the H5N8 virus," the agriculture ministry said.
On Thursday, a suspected AI case was reported at the
farm in Gochang, some 300 kilometers southwest of Seoul in North Jeolla
Province.
Provincial quarantine authorities culled more than
20,000 ducks Friday after a preliminary test indicated a possible AI
outbreak.
The latest discovery is the first case since May 2011, when more than 3 million poultry were slaughtered.
Earlier in the day, another suspected case was reported from a duck
farm in Buan, a county adjacent to Gochang, the ministry said.
Quarantine officials confirmed the deaths of some 90 ducks in an
on-site probe, and the remaining ducks are also showing AI symptoms,
according to the ministry, adding that a DNA test is underway.
But the case turned out to have no connection with Gochang as no trade
had been made between the farms, the ministry said.
Determining the exact strain of AI is often crucial as
highly pathogenic strains may require more severe quarantine measures
than low pathogenic strains.
Confirmation of an AI outbreak is
followed by the immediate launch of intensive quarantine measures that
include a lockdown of all poultry and personnel at farms in affected
areas.
The ministry said it has also began taking initial
quarantine measures at 24 poultry farms in four provinces that have
recently purchased ducks from the affected farm in Gochang.
http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2014/01/17/53/0504000000AEN20140117008100315F.html
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