South Korea - H5N1 - Iksan & Yangpyeong

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: SOUTH KOREA - Suspected bf case at poultry farm

Official: South Korean bird flu outbreak caused by virulent H5N1 strain

The Associated PressPublished: November 25, 2006


SEOUL, South Korea: An outbreak of bird flu at a South Korean chicken farm was caused by the virulent H5N1 virus, a health official said Saturday.

"It was confirmed as the H5N1 strain but we need more tests to identify whether it is low pathogenic or highly pathogenic," said Kim Jae-hong, a senior researcher at the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service.

The results of lab tests to determine the strain's pathology were expected to be announced later Saturday, officials said.

The outbreak occurred at a chicken farm in Iksan, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of Seoul, earlier this week, resulting in the deaths of 6,700 chickens. Quarantine officials were slaughtering an additional 6,300 chickens to prevent the virus from spreading.

Quarantine officials in Iksan said they will cull chickens and ducks as well as dogs, pigs and cats within a 500-meter (1,650-feet) radius if the virus turns out to be the highly pathogenic variety of H5N1, said Kim Joo-il, an official at Iksan city hall.

Iksan city hall's Kim said that the owner of the chicken farm has so far showed no signs of illness.

South Korea culled 5.3 million birds during the last known outbreak of bird flu in 2003.

The H5N1 virus began ravaging Asian poultry stocks in late 2003 and has killed dozens of people worldwide.

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2006/11/25/asia/AS_GEN_SKorea_Bird_Flu.php

Seems wise to cull all animals susceptible to BF (or put them in quaraintaine)

[HenryN]

Re: SOUTH KOREA - Suspected bf case at poultry farm

Commentary at

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/11250602/H5N1_Korea_Confirmed.html

[HenryN]

HPAI H5N1 Confirmed in South Korea

Official: SKorean bird flu outbreak caused by 'highly pathogenic' type of H5N1

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - An outbreak of bird flu at a South Korean chicken farm was caused by a "highly pathogenic'' type of the virulent H5N1 virus, a health official said Saturday.
The official, who didn't give his name, said more details would be released soon in a ministry statement. Earlier, another official confirmed the outbreak was H5N1, but said further detailed tests were being carried out. The outbreak occurred at a chicken farm in Iksan, about 250 kilometers (155 miles) south of Seoul, earlier this week, resulting in the deaths of 6,700 chickens. Quarantine officials were slaughtering an additional 6,300 chickens to prevent the virus from spreading.
Earlier, quarantine officials in Iksan said they would slaughter chickens and ducks as well as dogs, pigs and cats within a 500-meter (1,650-foot) radius if the virus turned out to be the highly pathogenic variety of H5N1, said Kim Joo-il, an official at Iksan city hall.
Kim said the owner of the chicken farm has so far showed no signs of illness.
South Korea killed 5.3 million birds during the last known outbreak of bird flu in 2003.
The H5N1 virus began ravaging Asian poultry stocks in late 2003 and has killed at least 153 people worldwide. - AP

<SCRIPT language=JavaScript> function remoteLocation( loc ) { remote = window.open('','TheRemote','width=480,height=500,r esizable=0,scrollbars=0'); if (remote != null) { if (remote.opener == null) { remote.opener = self; } remote.location.href = loc; } else { self.close(); } }</SCRIPT>http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp...34&sec=apworld<!-- v10 print email-->

[Sharpe]

Re: HPAI H5N1 Confirmed in South Korea

Very strange that they initially said it was a low-path strain that killed 6000 animals. That's a contradiction in itself.

[Gert van der Hoek]

Re: SOUTH KOREA - Suspected bf case at poultry farm

SEOUL, South Korea ? South Korean quarantine officials will slaughter 236,000 poultry after an outbreak of the virulent H5N1 form of bird flu at a chicken farm, the agriculture ministry said Saturday.

The outbreak occurred at a farm in Iksan, about 155 miles south of Seoul, earlier this week, resulting in the deaths of 13,000 chickens ? 6,700 a direct result of infection and the rest culled.

Test results confirmed the outbreak was caused by a "highly pathogenic" type of H5N1 virus, the ministry said in a statement.

It said 236,000 poultry within a 1,650-foot radius of the outbreak site would be slaughtered to keep the virus from spreading.

The ministry also said it would limit the movement of about 5 million chickens and ducks from 221 farms within a 1.6 mile radius of the outbreak.

Park Yong-jong, a city official in Iksan, said the culls would begin Sunday morning.

The "highly pathogenic" type of H5N1 can be lethal to poultry but poses little risk to people, said Kwon Jun-wook, an official at the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,231926,00.html

[hawkeye]

Re: SOUTH KOREA - Suspected bf case at poultry farm

BOXUN: Japan banned the import of South Korea South Korea outbreak of avian flu chicken

"...South Korea began slaughtering poultry avian flu epidemic area "BR>
In view of the outbreak of the avian flu epidemic in South Korea, the Japanese government has decided that the provisional ban chicken imports from South Korea. South Korea and asked for further detailed information.Experts said that the migratory birds spread of the avian flu virus has been regarded as one of the channels. Japan could not rule out the possibility of future recurrence of the epidemic. Japanese government officials, in order to prevent the transmission of the avian flu virus variants lead to a new human influenza. Japan is stepping up efforts to develop a vaccine, it is estimated will be made early next year...."

[Sharpe]

Re: SOUTH KOREA - Suspected bf case at poultry farm

http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200611/200611240008.html

New Bird Flu Outbreak Suspected in Iksan

Korea has its first suspected case of bird flu in the three years since the H5N1 virus first broke out here in December 2003. The Agriculture Ministry said Thursday it suspects bird flu broke out at a poultry farm in Iksan, North Jeolla Province and is conducting tests. The government thinks the latest case is of a virulent strain that can spread to humans. As a preventive measures, the ministry culled 6,000 chickens at the farm and closed nearby hatcheries. Two hundred and four farms in a 10 km radius around the farm have been quarantined. No human infections were reported.

Inspectors from the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service and the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday enter a chicken farm in Iksan, where a an outbreak of bird flu is suspected.

Kim Chang-seob, the ministry?s chief veterinary officer, said the conclusion whether the outbreak is of a virulent strain will available on Saturday, but the case is assumed to be of a deadly strain given the condition of the chickens that dies of the infection.

The affected area houses the chicken farms and processing plants of Halim and Dongwoo, two major chicken producers that account for 30-40 percent of the market. It is therefore going to have an enormous effect on the Korean chicken market. Between December 2003 and March 2004, bird flu cases at 19 poultry farms in 10 cities and counties nationwide killed 5.3 million chickens and ducks and caused financial damage of W150 billion (US$=W930).

An inspector and a farmer on Thursday dispose of culled chickens at a poultry farm in Iksan, where an outbreak of bird flu is suspected.

People must have a direct contact with infected birds to catch avian influenza. Experts say city dwellers are therefore at low risk, but farm workers are advised to wear protective gloves, a mask and goggles, shower carefully after work and keep the farm area clean. In Korea, nine people were infected with bird flu after they participated in poultry inspections and culls in 2003. Visitors to the winter sanctuaries of migratory birds are asked to tour only along official routes and to be careful not to step on feces of migratory birds. The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention said avian influenza shows similar symptoms to ordinary flu, including fever above 38 degrees Celsius, cough, a soar throat and respiratory difficulties. He advised people not to touch live poultry and to report to a nearby public health center if they have such symptoms.

Since it was first reported in Thailand and Vietnam in late 2003, the virulent strain of avian influenza has spread to Russia, Mongolia, Europe, Africa and India. A total of 43 countries have reported poultry infected with the deadly strain to the World Health Organization. The H5N1 virus infected at least 258 people over the past three years, killing 153 of them, according to the WHO. Indonesia has been the biggest victim. Since December 2003, 74 Indonesians have been infected and 56 of them died. Vietnam and Thailand have also been on a high bird flu alert. Ninety-three Vietnamese people were infected, the largest number worldwide, and 17 Thais died of bird flu. In China, 14 people were killed and in Egypt six.

[Sharpe]

Re: HPAI H5N1 Confirmed in South Korea

http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/biz/200611/kt2006112317452011870.htm

Suspected Bird Flu Reported in Iksan


By Kim Yon-se
Staff Reporter


Quarantine officials enter a village in Iksan, North Cholla Province, Thursday, to examine the area after a suspected outbreak of bird flu was reported at a chicken farm there. /Yonhap
A suspected outbreak of bird flu was reported at a chicken farm in Iksan, North Cholla Province, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said Thursday, affecting a group of brood hens. The ministry said that depending on the type of avian influenza, the highly contagious virus could be transmitted to humans.

The farm is a subcontractor of Korea?s largest chicken meat provider, Halim, which has more than a 30 percent market share. The plant supplies young chicks to Halim by raising thousands of brood hens.

The National Veterinary Research & Quarantine Service detected the suspected bird flu in the provincial city and the ministry has dispatched a group of inspectors for a detailed investigation.

``It will take several days for us to finish investigations into whether it is real avian influenza and of what type,?? said Ministry spokesman Lee Yang-ho. In an emergency news briefing, the ministry said about 6,000 out of 13,000 brood hens in the plant died between last Sunday and Wednesday.

If the government confirms the influenza as a type that can be transmitted to people, it will issue a nationwide bird flu warning, cautioning against the arrival of migratory birds from northern countries.

The bird flu virus, previously limited to Southeast Asia, has been found among migratory birds in China, Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia since last year.

Halim, also located in Iksan, shut down its online homepage for several hours after the suspected outbreak was reported.

[Sharpe]

Re: HPAI H5N1 Confirmed in South Korea

Pictures.

[HenryN]

Re: HPAI H5N1 Confirmed in South Korea

Very strange that they initially said it was a low-path strain that killed 6000 animals. That's a contradiction in itself.

There are two outbreaks in South Korea. H5N1 is HPAI. H5N2 is LPAI. The H5N1 caused the death of 6,000. The H5N2 was another farm in another location.

[HenryN]

Re: HPAI H5N1 Confirmed in South Korea

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="95%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=DetaildTitleGolden id=tdMainHeader width="100%">South Korea confirms H5N1 outbreak</TD><TD vAlign=center></TD><TD vAlign=center align=left></TD></TR><TR><TD id=tdbyLine width="100%" colSpan=3></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=3></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 5px"><TABLE height=350 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=1></TD></TR><TR><TD class=PaddingTop10 id=tdSubHeader vAlign=top colSpan=2 height=60><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top><TABLE style="DISPLAY: inline" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=right>

Officials had feared that the virulent H5N1 strain was responsible for the outbreak

<TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>South Korea is to slaughter 236,000 poultry after the agriculture ministry confirmed an outbreak of the virulent H5N1 strain of the bird flu virus.

The agriculture ministry said earlier this week it suspected bird flu had killed at least 6,000 chickens at a farm in the south-west of the country that lies on a path taken by migratory birds.

<TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><INPUT id=Htmlphcontrol1_btnCheckLength style="DISPLAY: none" onclick="return getSelectedText('_KtuluBody1');" type=submit value="Remove Format" name=Htmlphcontrol1:btnCheckLength></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE style="DISPLAY: none" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SCRIPT language=javascript>bodyVariable350="Htmlphcontrol 1_lblError";</SCRIPT></TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE height=10><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>"It is the H5N1 strain," a ministry official said.

The ministry said in a statement that it ordered the culling of 236,000 poultry within a 500-metre radius of the farm in North Cholla province about 170km from Seoul, the South Korean capital.

<TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><INPUT id=Htmlphcontrol2_btnCheckLength style="DISPLAY: none" onclick="return getSelectedText('_KtuluBody2');" type=submit value="Remove Format" name=Htmlphcontrol2:btnCheckLength></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE style="DISPLAY: none" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><SCRIPT language=javascript>bodyVariable300="Htmlphcontrol 2_lblError";</SCRIPT></TD><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE height=10><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE id=ServicesList style="DISPLAY: inline" cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 align=right border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></TD></TR><TR><TD id=tdRelated align=middle></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Quarantine authorities also banned the shipment of more than five million poultry from 221 farms within a 10km radius of the farm.

There were no reports to suggest local residents or quarantine officials had been infected, another agriculture ministry official said by telephone.

Global outbreak

Between December 2003 and March 2004, about 400,000 poultry at South Korean farms were infected by bird flu.

During that outbreak, the country culled 5.3 million birds and spent about 1.5 trillion won ($1.6 billion) on preventing the disease spreading, officials said.

Subsequent testing in the US indicated that at least nine South Korean workers involved in the cull had been infected with the H5N1 virus, but none developed major illnesses.

Since 2003, outbreaks have been confirmed in around 50 countries and territories, according to the World Organisation for Animal Health.

North Korea had an outbreak at poultry farms near the capital Pyongyang in February 2005, which led it to cull more than 200,000 chickens and vaccinate 1.1 million poultry.

The World Health Organisation said that as of November 13, there had been 258 cases of human infection of the H5N1 strain since 2003, killing 153 people.

Many of the deaths occured in Asia, with 98 deaths in Vietnam and Indonesia, the WHO said.

<TABLE border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE height=10><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exer...DD534F06A8.htm</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD><TR><TD id=tdSourceAgency vAlign=center><TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=SourceTitle vAlign=center width="100%" algin="left">Source: Reuters</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

[HenryN]

Re: HPAI H5N1 Confirmed in South Korea

Highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Republic of Korea (suspicion)

(Date of previous outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Republic of Korea reported to the OIE: 2004).
Information received on 23 November 2006 from Dr Chang-Seob Kim, Chief Veterinary Officer, Animal Health Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Gwacheon:
Report date: 22 November 2006.
Reason for immediate notification: re-occurrence of a listed disease or infection in a country or zone/compartment following a report declaring the outbreak(s) ended.
Identification of agent: avian influenza virus subtype H5.
Date of first confirmation of the event: 22 November 2006.
Nature of diagnosis: clinical, post-mortem and laboratory.
Location of the outbreak: Iksan city (Jeollabuk-do province).
Number of animals in the outbreak: 6,500 cases, 13,000 susceptible animals, 6,500 deaths.
Description of affected population: a parent stock farm for broiler chickens (45 weeks old).
Laboratory where diagnostic tests were performed: National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service, Anyang, Kyonggi.
Diagnostic test used: PCR<SUP>(1)</SUP>.
Source of outbreak or origin of infection: unknown or inconclusive.
Control measures undertaken:
<DIR>- control of wildlife reservoirs;
- stamping out;
- quarantine;
- movement control inside the country (a 10-km radius zone around the infected holding);
- screening;
- zoning.
</DIR>(1) PCR: polymerase chain reaction

http://www.oie.int/Messages/061124KOR.htm

[HenryN]

Re: HPAI H5N1 Confirmed in South Korea

There are two outbreaks in South Korea. H5N1 is HPAI. H5N2 is LPAI. The H5N1 caused the death of 6,000. The H5N2 was another farm in another location.

Some media reports indocate the LPAI is not H5N2. In any event, the deaths are from H5N1 (and it is likely to be the Qinghai strain because migratory bird`paths have been mentioned serveral times now.).

[HenryN]

Re: HPAI H5N1 Confirmed in South Korea

Seoul (eCanadaNow) - South Korea is set to slaughter 236,000 poultry after an outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus.
This took place at a chicken farm according to the agriculture ministry on Saturday.
The outbreak occured at a chicken farm about 155 miles south of Seoul and resulted in the deaths of 13,000 chickens. 6,700 of them were a direct result of the bird flu infection.
236,000 poultry within a 1,650 foot radius of the outbreak site are now set to be slaughtered to keep the virus from spreading.
The ministry also announced the limited movement of 5 million chickens and ducks from 221 farms within a 0.6 mile radius of the outbreak.
?People can be infected with the virus if they come into direct contact with dead chickens,? said Kwon, the KCDC?s director of the communicable disease control team.
That is why the slaughtering is going to take place.

http://www.ecanadanow.com/science/he...-flu-outbreak/

<SCRIPT type=text/javascript><!--google_ad_client = "pub-7819247354276081";google_ad_width = 300;google_ad_height = 250;google_ad_format = "300x250_as";google_ad_type = "text_image";//2006-11-04: ECN Bottomgoogle_ad_channel = "2333585574";google_color_border = "FFFFFF";google_color_bg = "FFFFFF";google_color_link = "0000FF";google_color_text = "000000";google_color_url = "008000";//--></SCRIPT><SCRIPT src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>

[AlaskaDenise]

Re: HPAI H5N1 Confirmed in South Korea

...the limited movement...

What does that mean? Are they relocating nearby fowl or are they limiting the movement, ie., preventing transportation to market?

.