January 4, 2010

South Korea discovers new cases of AH1N1 flu virus in pigs

South Korean authorities have identified two further herds infected with the AH1N1 flu virus, following up on the previously reported AH1N1-affected pig herds.

The South Korean veterinary authorities have sent a follow-up report dated on December 30, 2009 to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). According to the report, the influenza AH1N1 virus has been found at two more pig herds.

The first outbreak, which occurred on December 14, 2009, involved 20 imported pigs from a herd of 90 animals at Unbuk-dong in Inchon-Jikhalsi, off the north-west coast. In the second outbreak, 56 pigs from a herd of 1,600 animals were tested positive for the virus at Taein-myeon in Cholla-Bukdo in the south-west of the country on December 28.

After several pig farms were found to be infected with the AH1N1 flu virus, south Korea's Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries investigated farms which had potential relations with the affected pig farms. During the course of this investigation, one farm was found to be affected with the virus. Consequently, the pigs in the affected farm were put under movement restrictions for three weeks.