December 22, 2004

South Korea Steps Up Fight Against Bird Flu

Amid growing concerns about a possible outbreak of human-to-human infection of bird flu in Japan, the South Korean government has drawn up measures to prevent the avian influenza from reaching the country.

Seoul's Agriculture and Forestry Ministry said it would conduct special inspections on regions known to be vulnerable to the bird flu until this weekend.

The months between last November and next February have been designated "special prevention period" in order to take preventive action against the virus.

The government also plans set up a permanent task force to be dispatched in 21 so-called ¡°vulnerable¡± regions to closely monitor the area.