October 5, 2005

South Korea rules out poultry vaccinations against bird flu
 

South Korea has ruled out poultry vaccinations against bird flu as an option, although the World Health Organization recently warned of the threat of a bird flu pandemic.

Although the country was hit by bird flu between December 2003 and March 2004, the outbreaks were minor compared with those in Thailand and Vietnam. The government has also stepped up anti-bird flu efforts.

Kim Joon-kul, an official at the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's Animal Health Division, said animal vaccination was not a solution and "can make things more complicated and prevention more difficult."

Those against poultry vaccination claimed that people would stop consuming chickens due to fear of unknown side effects. However, those who supported it, including the WHO, believed it was safe to consume treated chickens as long as they were cooked properly.

Kim added that countries such as Vietnam and China have carried out mass poultry vaccinations because their problem was more widespread.

Instead, the government believed alertness and strict surveillance was the best measure to curb the virus. The Agriculture Ministry had decided to issue a bird flu alert in mid-October, in anticipation of migratory birds arriving during winter.

The government has also expressed concern over migratory birds from nearby Russia and Mongolia, both of which have already been hit by the disease. Nesting areas of migratory birds and areas near the demilitarised zones would also be closely monitored for early detection to prevent any outbreaks.