November 11, 2005

North Korea issues bird flu alert to fight potential outbreak

North Korea has issued a bird flu alert, urging its people to unite against a potential outbreak of the disease, the country's media reported.

Bird flu hit North Korea earlier this year, forcing the communist state to cull about 210,000 chickens and other poultry. In April, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization said the outbreak was successfully contained. No new cases of bird flu have since been reported.

Experts fear the H5N1 variety of the bird flu virus that is sweeping through Asia and penetrated Europe and the Middle East, could mutate into a form easily passed between humans, causing a global pandemic. The virulent strain has killed at least 64 people in Asia since 2003, and resulted in the death or destruction of millions of birds.

With fresh outbreaks abroad, including in neighboring China, North Korea has staged a nationwide campaign in recent months to ward off the disease. Leader Kim Jong Il spoke about it recently, and state-controlled media have been quick to report bird flu developments overseas.

On Thursday, the anti-bird flu campaign reached new heights, with North Korea's national anti-epidemic measures committee issuing an "emergency alert," according to the North's Korean Central Television Broadcasting Station, monitored by South Korea's Yonhap news agency.

The station reported that chicken farms have been placed off-limits to visitors and all vehicles transporting feed must be disinfected.

It also said authorities enhanced quarantine efforts at borders and ports, and regional public health authorities were carrying out health checks on residents.

In addition, the central government was sending regional governments guidelines on the disease's characteristics and consequences, preventive measures and the latest developments on overseas outbreaks, the station reported.