April 17, 2008

New bird flu outbreaks reported in South Korea

The South Korean government said Thursday that seven new suspected cases of bird flu outbreaks were reported in the southwestern part of the country, despite stepped up quarantine efforts, Yonhap news agency reported.

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said the suspected outbreaks were all reported in the Jeolla region, with two chicken farms testing positive for the H5 bird flu strain, Yonhap said.

The ministry said the latest reports brought the total number of suspected and confirmed bird flu cases to 43 this year. Of these 21 have tested positive for bird flu.

"With the exception on the confirmed bird outbreak in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, all other cases took place in the Jeolla region," said a government official, according to the report.

He said if no other non-Jeolla cases are reported this year, the outbreak may soon come under control.