January 28, 2021

South Korea's agricultural ministry investigating four suspected bird flu cases

South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said it is investigating four suspected bird flu cases of the highly pathogenic strain at Gyeonggi Province, as it extended daily disinfection operations for a further two weeks at all poultry farms, Yonhap News Agency reported.

The test results for the four suspected bird flu cases will be confirmed within three days.

South Korea has reported 73 total H5N8 bird flu cases at local farms, with daily disinfection operations conducted at all poultry farms since last week.

22 million poultry, including 12.8 million chickens, have been culled by authorities under their policy of culling and destroying all birds within a 3km radius of farms discovered to have bird flu.

Prices for domestic poultry-related goods have surged, with fresh eggs now up 26.5% year-on-year this past week. Chicken meat was up 14.6% and duck meat 37.8%.

The South Korean cabinet has approved an amended regulation to permit local companies to import 50,000 tonnes of fresh eggs and seven other types of egg product without tariffs until June 30, 2021.

Bird flu among wild birds in South Korea reached 101 cases. 

- Yonhap News Agency