November 27, 2015

South Korea has suspended poultry imports from France after it had received reports of an outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus of the H5N1 type in Biras, Dordogne, in southwestern France.

The order on the restriction made by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs was immediate, reported koreatimes.co.kr on Thursday.

"All meat products, live birds, which include pets, and even eggs will be affected, although processed foods that have been treated with heat are exempt," the ministry was quoted as saying.

South Korea itself suffers from bird-flu outbreaks, particularly in the southwestern part.

According to OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) the outbreak occurred on Nov. 14 at a non-commercial farm, affecting 32 broiler chickens and layer hens. The outbreak caused the deaths of 22 birds. Ten others were preventively destroyed.

Earlier this month, the OIE said it had received official reports of two confirmed outbreaks of the H5N1 avian influenza in Cambodia and Vietnam.