November 3, 2005

South Korean farm ducklings die from unknown causes

About 1,000 ducklings have died from unknown causes at a South Korean poultry farm on the island of Jeju, but authorities have not found signs of bird flu, the Jeju Provincial Administration said on Nov 2.

The one-to-two-month-old ducklings died on Nov 1 at a duck farm in Dopyung-Dong and before that, about 10 ducks had died at the same farm on Oct 21.

Health officials said tests of samples taken from the dead birds did not show bird flu or other respiratory viral infections.

The National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service is likely to conduct a thorough examination soon and cull the remaining birds at the farm.