December 26, 2003

 

 

South Korea Report More Bird Flu Cases

 

The bird flu outbreak in South Korea seems to be spreading with more cases reported recently by farmers. The latest spate of bird flu cases were traced to duck-breeding farms in South Cholla province, home to half of South Korea's eight million ducks.

 

The Agriculture Ministry said about half of the target of one million chickens and ducks had been slaughtered and buried. The total includes thousands of chickens who died instantly after contracting the flu.

 

"A total 19 suspected cases are being tested including the newly reported cases," the ministry said in a statement.

 

The ministry said there were three fresh reports of suspected cases from farmers in Cholla province's Naju, 170 miles southwest of Seoul, and two more from duck farms 24 km (15 miles) away from the first confirmed case.

 

The country confirmed its first case of bird flu among chickens at a farm about 80 km (50 miles) southeast of the capital on December 15.

 

Till date, the disease has spread to 11 poultry farms across South Korea, the ministry said.

 

To cope with falling poultry prices, the ministry said the government would buy 100,000 to 300,000 ducks and chickens per day for one month.

 

"A sharp decline in poultry consumption has led to about a 30 - 40 % drop in market prices since the bird flu outbreak," the ministry said.

 

"To help settle oversupply due to falling consumption, the government will purchase poultry, while buying and destroying eggs as well," it added.

 

Poultry prices fell to 616 won ($0.514) per kilogram on Wednesday from 991 won on December 10, the ministry said.

 

Almost 1,000 people living in the affected areas have been given blood tests and monitored but no one has shown symptoms of the disease. In rare cases, bird flu is lethal to humans, with a virus incubation period of four to five days.

 

Authorities are waiting for U.S. test results to determine if the latest virus is genetically similar to the H5N1 variant of avian influenza that killed six people in Hong Kong in 1997 and 1998.

 

The bird flu outbreak has hit chicken and duck restaurants and halted South Korea's modest poultry exports to Japan, Hong Kong and China.

 

($1 = 1,199.0 won)