# 5210
A third Korean poultry operation – this time a duck farm in Jeolla Province – has been struck by the highly pathogenic H5N1 bird flu virus, raising concerns that the virus may be spreading across the country.
After an absence of just over 18 months, during which time Korea enjoyed a bird flu free status - wild and migratory birds have recently been discovered with the H5N1 virus in :
- Iksan, North Jeolla Province (Dec. 7) in a duck
- Seosan, South Chungcheong Province (Dec. 10) in 2 eagle owls
- Haenam (Dec. 28) in 20 Teal Ducks
Additionally, over the past week we’ve learned of three outbreaks in poultry operations, as indicated in the map below.
During their last H5N1 outbreak in April-May 2008, South Korea waged a month-long, very expensive battle to contain the virus that resulted in the culling of more than 8 million birds.
Since then, South Korea has conducted year-round monitoring for the bird flu virus (see South Korea To Begin Year-Round Bird Flu Monitoring) in hopes of preventing future outbreaks.
This report from Xinhua News (h/t Dutchy on FluTrackers)
S Korea confirms additional bird flu outbreak
SEOUL, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- South Korea on Friday confirmed an additional bird flu outbreak at a duck farm in Jeolla Province, amid the country's worst outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.
The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said ducks at the farm in Yeongnam, South Jeolla Province, tested positive for the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus.
All ducks at the farm and other 70,000 birds at four farms within a 500-meter radius, totaling 84,000, have been culled as a precautionary measure.
The latest outbreak marks the third case of bird flu after two cases confirmed in Cheonan and Iksan on Dec. 31.
South Korea has been hit by avian influenza three times, with the last outbreak in April 2008. It had been a bird flu-free country since 2008, but lost this status when last month's two cases were confirmed.
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