South Korea: H5N1 in Fowl/Animals, 2 April 2008 +

[Shiloh]

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

Source: http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/busi...02500320F.HTML

2008/04/11 11:44 KST
Bird flu spreading through southwestern S. Korea

혻 혻 SEOUL, April 11 (Yonhap) -- Bird flu outbreaks that started killing chickens and ducks in late March have spread through the southwestern part of South Korea despite intensified quarantine efforts, the government said Friday.

혻 혻 The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said suspected outbreaks of avian influenza have been discovered in Naju, about 355 kilometers south of Seoul.

혻혻 It was the second discovery in the region after authorities found suspected cases in Yeongam, 25 kilometers south of Naju, earlier in the week.

혻혻 The ministry said three duck farms in Naju may have been hit by bird flu, and that more detailed tests are needed to ascertain the exact cause and to confirm if a virulent strain is the cause of the deaths.

혻 혻 The first outbreaks occurred in areas about 100 kilometers north of Naju, with several confirmed and suspected cases in Gimje and Jeongeup.

혻 혻 The ministry said there are now 25 confirmed and suspected cases of bird flu, with officials scrambling to cull and bury birds to prevent further contamination.

혻혻 "As a precautionary measure, all birds within a 10 kilometer radius of Gimje and Jeongeup farms are to be destroyed," a quarantine official said. He added similar steps are to be taken for ducks and chickens within 3 kilometers of Yeongam.

혻 혻 He said the decision will result in over 2.36 million birds being culled in these regions. The animal expert, however, said that concerns of another outbreak in Sunchang, 364 kilometers south of Seoul, arose from other causes.

혻혻 South Korean health authorities, meanwhile, said a person who reported having symptoms similar to bird flu during the week tested negative.

혻혻 The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention said the person who had taken samples for analysis from areas of bird flu outbreaks is already feeling better and has been released from observation. It said polymerase chain reaction tests carried out Thursday showed he was suffering from human flu and not a mutated form of the virus that has caused human deaths in the past.

혻혻 yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)

[HenryN]

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

Commentary

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04110801/H5N1_SW_Korea.html

[Treyfish]

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

Avian Influenza Press Release In the last 3 days the Republic of Korea(ROK)government reported an outbreak of the H5N1 strain of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), also called "Bird Flu", on the Korean peninsula. The HPAI outbreak occurred 4 April 2008 in chickens located at Kimjae (20 Km from Gunsan) and in ducks at Jeongeup (10 km from Gunsan) in the Jeollabuk-do Province (Area IV), about 155 miles south of Seoul and approximately 10-20 miles east of Gunsan Airbase.
HPAI and other avian influenza viruses infect wild birds and poultry (e.g. chickens). The H5N1 strain of HPAI has caused high mortality in bird populations throughout Asia. HPAI virus is a disease of birds, but occasionally it will also infect humans. When humans do contract HPAI, it may result in significant illness or death. While there is no current evidence of efficient human-to-human transmission of the HPAI virus, it could mutate and become capable of efficient human-to-human transmission.
There were two prior HPAI outbreaks in the ROK as a result of infected migratory birds. These outbreaks occurred in poultry farms 15 Dec 03 to 5 Feb 04, and then again 22 Nov 06 to 8 Mar 07. During both of these outbreaks the ROK government took fast action to contain the HPAI, greatly reducing its spread and impact on all communities; there was no evidence of infection among Koreans or other nationalities residing in Korea other than in a few Koreans involved with bird culling or farming operations during Korea?s rapid response to contain and eliminate HPAI from the peninsula. None of these Korean?s actually suffered any symptoms of the infection ? they were discovered via blood tests to have been exposed to the virus.
As a result of the recent HPAI outbreak in chickens in the ROK, Korean veterinary and public health officials have enacted comprehensive, layered levels of containment around the infected poultry farms. The ROK government is destroying (culling) potentially infected birds and other animals in order to stamp out HPAI. Korean government officials have also implemented a country-wide HPAI surveillance program in order to quickly detect the "Bird Flu;" this measure was implemented so the government can employ containment measures, then eradicate any new outbreaks of the HPAI that are discovered.
This recent outbreak of the HPAI at Korean chicken and duck farms poses no immediate risk to U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) personnel. However, it is noteworthy to mention that risks may exist from eating uncooked or undercooked poultry or poultry products on the economy (such as eggs "over easy" or "easy over," eggnog, or hollandaise sauce made with raw eggs) that is potentially infected with HPAI. The USFK Commissaries and AAFES Exchanges/Shoppettes only stock eggs from the U.S. and U.S. government-approved Korean poultry sources. Eggs from the Korean farms undergo routine testing, and there has never been a record of HPAI viruses being detected. If such an outbreak would occur, there is a rapid produce recall system in place to inform and protect USFK personnel from infection. All Korean eggs sold in USFK Commissaries and AAFES establishments are pasteurized in order to kill bacteria and viruses (rendering them safe for the USFK consumer). However, eggs produced by infected chickens may harbor the virus within the egg. But even with pasteurization, eggs should never be eaten raw or undercooked.
So far, cases of human HPAI infections have mostly been the result of direct contact with infected poultry or with surfaces contaminated with their feces. Common exposures typically occur during slaughter/culling, defeathering, and butchering. There are no reported cases of humans becoming infected with HPAI virus as a result of the current "Bird Flu" outbreak in the ROK, and this is the first time since March 2007 that HPAI virus has been reported.

The USFK Surgeon?s Office and the 18<SUP>th Medical Command (MEDCOM) Force Health Protection Office continue to monitor the current situation and are coordinating and collaborating with Korean Public Health officials. These offices, in collaboration with the USFK Public Affairs Office, will provide additional information and advisories to USFK personnel as it becomes available.
General safety precautions that will help protect USFK personnel from any potential infection with HPAI virus include:
<DIR><DIR>avoid eating uncooked or undercooked poultry or poultry products;
avoid all direct contact with poultry farms and bird markets;
avoid all contact with poultry being butchered for market or culled for safety purposes
avoid contact with poultry feces or secretions;
thoroughly cook all foods from poultry, including eggs (no "runny" yolks) and poultry blood (no "pink" parts);
utilize proper hand hygiene practices by using soap and water for 15-20 seconds (or a waterless, alcohol-based hand sanitizing gel when soap is not available), especially when handling poultry or poultry products;
avoid contact with poultry and other birds suspected or known to be infected with HPAI virus;
cover the mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing;
obtain the annual influenza vaccination;
monitor your health within 10 days after any possible contact with uncooked or undercooked poultry; if you develop flu-like symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches), or diarrhea, eye infection, or pneumonia (lung infection), see your healthcare provider immediately as these may be the early symptoms of HPAI.
</DIR></DIR>Additional information on Avian Influenza can be found at the following websites:
<DIR><DIR>U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine: http://chppm-www.apgea.army.mil/news...s/Pandemic.htm
U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration: http://www.osha.gov/dsg/guidance/avian-flu.html
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: http://pandemicflu.gov/

</DIR></DIR>
this report is from here and has a good map USFK Medical Advisory Avian Influenza Outbreak 20080407.doc (1.35MB)

http://humphreys.korea.army.mil/Alerts/20080410_AvianInfluenzaPressRelease.asp
</SUP>

[Oracle]

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

Okey dokey.

Outbreak indicators have quieted down a bit. Conditions are volatile, meaning ripe for further outbreak, if this lull doesn't hold.

At present, S Korea has squeaked, by the skin of it's teeth, out of a major meltdown of it's poultry industry.

Japan came very close to an outbreak as well.

Either S Korea learns it's lesson, or it will get hammered again. Poultry density is A BIG ISSUE here. From practical and hard won experience, we know that down wind poultry rearing facilities can and do get hit with wind propagated viral disease.

The poultry densities hinted at in th Jeolla Province per news reports quoted here, suggests that the entire area could become infected VERY QUICKLY, in a domino-effect of spreading, due to a handful of factors that actively encourage outbreak.

This is not rocket science. It's gobsmacking astounding that these poultry intensive rearing areas are allowed to continue high density production as though nothing is wrong.

They are causing their own problems.

[HenryN]

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

Okey dokey.

Outbreak indicators have quieted down a bit. Conditions are volatile, meaning ripe for further outbreak, if this lull doesn't hold.

At present, S Korea has squeaked, by the skin of it's teeth, out of a major meltdown of it's poultry industry.

Japan came very close to an outbreak as well.

Either S Korea learns it's lesson, or it will get hammered again. Poultry density is A BIG ISSUE here. From practical and hard won experience, we know that down wind poultry rearing facilities can and do get hit with wind propagated viral disease.

The poultry densities hinted at in th Jeolla Province per news reports quoted here, suggests that the entire area could become infected VERY QUICKLY, in a domino-effect of spreading, due to a handful of factors that actively encourage outbreak.

This is not rocket science. It's gobsmacking astounding that these poultry intensive rearing areas are allowed to continue high density production as though nothing is wrong.

They are causing their own problems.

South Korea has had reported H5N1 outbreaks in three of the past five seasons and all were due to migratory birds. There really is no reason to expect the upcoming years to be any different

[HenryN]

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +


SKorea confirms fourth deadly outbreak of bird flu

The Associated Press
Sunday, April 13, 2008
SEOUL, South Korea: South Korea's Agriculture Ministry says a recent outbreak of bird flu has been confirmed as the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.
The ministry said Sunday that government tests have confirmed the H5N1 strain was what had infected chickens on a farm in Yeoungam, about 380 kilometers (236 miles) southwest of Seoul.
The ministry says it was the fourth confirmed outbreak of H5N1 in the country.
The South Jeolla provincial government says quarantine workers have culled 470,000 chickens and ducks at 20 farms within a 3 kilometer (1.8 mile) radius of the site of the outbreak.

http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=11930142

[HenryN]

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

Commentray

http://www.recombinomics.com/News/04130801/H5N1_ROK_Migration.html

[HenryN]

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

<TABLE class=lan18 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="97%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=hei22 vAlign=bottom height=25>Bird flu outbreaks spreading in S Korea
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<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="97%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width="48%">www.chinaview.cn 2008-04-13 13:53:03</TD><TD class=hui12 align=middle width="26%"> </TD><TD class=hui12 align=middle width="12%"> Print</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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SEOUL, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said Sunday that suspected outbreaks of avian influenza have been discovered in Muan, South Jeolla province.
In addition to the Muan case, four more reports of suspected outbreak were filed on Saturday in other areas, the government said.
The South Korean government said Sunday that 29 suspected or confirmed outbreaks of bird flu have been reported in the country since late March, warning suspected bird flu cases continued spreading. The government confirmed the first bird flu outbreak in Jeongeup, North Jeolla province, 73 km north of Muan. The ministry said over 1.3 million birds, including ducks and chickens, have been culled and buried so far.

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
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<TABLE class=hei12 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="90%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD align=right height=25>Editor: Wang Hongjiang </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-04/13/content_7968364.htm

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[HenryN]

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

Updated map

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.00044622013f3bba138f7&t=h&ll=35.380093,127.133789&spn=3.878003,5.41626&z=7

[HenryN]

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

Bird flu case caused by deadly strain <!-- END HEADLINE -->
<!-- BEGIN STORY BODY -->14 minutes ago


South Korea's government confirmed a fourth outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus in the country's southwest Sunday, as the tally of birds slaughtered to control the spread of the disease rose to 1.3 million.
Government tests confirmed the latest H5N1 outbreak at a farm in Yeoungam, about 236 miles southwest of Seoul, Agriculture Ministry official Kim Chang-sup said.
Earlier this month, South Korea reported its first case of H5N1 in more than a year. Since then, three more H5N1 outbreaks have been confirmed, Kim said. Six further outbreaks were being tested for the deadly strain, he said.
Quarantine workers have slaughtered 470,000 chickens and ducks at 20 farms within a 1.8 mile radius of the site of the latest outbreak, according to Ryu Chul-hyuk, an official of the South Jeolla provincial government.
More than 1.3 million ducks and chickens have been slaughtered this month in H5N1 affected areas in the southwest, according to the ministry.
Seven outbreaks of the deadly virus hit poultry farms across South Korea between November 2006 and March 2007, resulting in the slaughter of about 2.8 million birds.
At least 239 people worldwide have died from bird flu since 2003, according to the World Health Organization. So far, most human cases have been linked to contact with infected poultry.
The disease is relatively difficult for humans to catch, but health authorities fear it could mutate into a form that is easily spread among humans, which could cause a flu pandemic.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080413/ap_on_re_as/skorea_bird_flu&printer=1;_ylt=ApFIndV6uasXljTAVbOJDMb9xg8F

[HenryN]

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

Bird flu spreads in South Korea
04.13.08, 6:33 AM ET
SEOUL (Thomson Financial) - South Korea confirmed Sunday the fourth outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu this month, despite the culling of more than 1 million poultry and other efforts to contain the deadly virus.
The Agriculture Ministry said it had confirmed an H5N1 case at a farm in Yeongam, 380 km (235 miles) south of Seoul.
'The latest outbreak involved the 'highly-virulent' H5N1 virus for the fourth time,' said an official of the ministry who is handling the case.
Six other cases of H5 bird flu -- but not the H5N1 strain -- have been detected in the same area of southwestern South Korea, ministry officials said.
The ministry is awaiting results from 18 more samples, officials said.
The authorities have culled 1.3 million chickens and ducks in and around infected farms in the Jeolla provinces in the south, a hub of the country's livestock industry.
They have also imposed restrictions on the movement of birds, people and vehicles in the region, which reported this year's first outbreak in early April.
South Korea reported seven cases of H5N1 infection between November 2006 and March last year, resulting in the temporary suspension of poultry exports to Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and elsewhere.
But last June the World Organisation for Animal Health classified the country as free from the disease.
The H5N1 strain has killed more than 230 people worldwide since late 2003. No South Koreans have contracted the disease.

afp

jm/jm

http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/04/13/afx4883261.html

[HenryN]

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

Bird flu spreads in South Korea
04.13.08, 6:33 AM ET
SEOUL (Thomson Financial) -
Six other cases of H5 bird flu -- but not the H5N1 strain -- have been detected in the same area of southwestern South Korea, ministry officials said.

afp

jm/jm

http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/...fx4883261.html

Most would read the above comment as indicating the H5 detected was not H5N1, when in fact it just means that the H5 detected has not been TESTED for H5N1 (and will almost CERTAINLY be reported as H5N1 after testing is completed).

[HenryN]

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

South Korea: Bird flu quarantines increase

Published: April 13, 2008 at 10:27 AM

SEOUL, April 13 (UPI) -- Quarantines increased in South Korea Sunday amid reports of more suspected bird flu cases, officials said.

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries announced Sunday that a potential outbreak was found in Muan, South Jeolla province, the Yonhap News Agency reported.

The ministry said the Muan outbreak is the 29th suspected H5 type bird flu case this year.

The first case of bird flu in 2008 was confirmed in Jeongeup in North Jeolla province, about 45 miles north of Muan. Officials said four suspected cases were discovered Saturday.

Quarantines and restrictions have increased in the transport of birds, humans and vehicles in Yeongam, Naju, Gimje, Jeoneup and Muan, officials said. South Jeolla authorities issued a province-wide alert to prevent furthering the outbreak.

South Korea has experienced bird flu outbreaks twice before, once in 2003-2004 and another time in 2005-2006.

http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Health/2008/04/13/south_korea_bird_flu_quarantines_increase/8594/

[Treyfish]

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

<TABLE class=text cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=634 align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=td_font_title05 width=627 bgColor=#ededed>Bird flu spreads through southwestern Korea</TD></TR><TR><TD width=7 bgColor=#ededed height=10></TD><TD width=627 bgColor=#ededed height=10></TD></TR><TR><TD colSpan=2 height=20></TD></TR><TR><TD width=7></TD><TD class=td_font_no id=font_kh width=627><!-- // =================== ???? ???? ?α׺м??ڵ? ==================================// --><!--<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <!-- <td></td> <td></td> </tr></table>--><!-- // ================================================== =================================// --><SCRIPT language=JavaScript src="http://khview.koreaherald.co.kr/khjs/kherald/banner.js" type=text/javascript></SCRIPT>Suspected bird flu outbreaks continued spreading Sunday as quarantine efforts intensified to contain the deadly disease, which appeared in the country in late March for the first time in about two years, reported Yonhap News Agency.

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said Sunday that another suspected outbreaks of avian influenza was discovered in Muan, South Jeolla province.

It said the latest discovery brings the total number of confirmed and suspected H5 type bird flu cases as of 9 a.m. to 29 for this year. The first confirmed case of the virulent strain of the avian influenza was found in Jeongeup in North Jeolla province, 73 kilometers north of Muan.

Authorities said that in addition to the Muan case, four more reports of suspected outbreak were filed on Saturday.

They said tightened quarantine inspections and limits on the movement of birds, people and vehicles are in effect for Yeongam, Naju, Gimje, Jeoneup and Muan in the southwest of the country. The bird flu has yet to spread east and there have been no reports of sudden deaths of birds outside of the Jeolla region.
The ministry said over 1.3 million ducks and chickens have been culled and buried so far, with about 90,000 others being destroyed to prevent the further spread of avian influenza.<!-- www.koreaherald.co.kr -->


2008.04.13 http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/
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[Treyfish]

Re: South Korea:H5N1 Spreading in Fowl, 2 April 2008 +

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=555 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=555 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=link_title1 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 24px" span>S. Jeolla Confirms Bird Flu Outbreak</TD></TR><TR><TD vAlign=top></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR><TR><TD><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=189 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD width=216 bgColor=#6d7ebb height=6></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#f4f4f4><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="95%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--Related News ???̺? ????--><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="95%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12px" height=15 span><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12px" height=15 span><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12px" height=15 span><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD style="LINE-HEIGHT: 12px" height=15 span><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD></TD></TR><TR><TD height=5></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--Related News ???̺? ??--></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><!--?????? ???? ??-->South Jeolla Province has confirmed an outbreak of avian influenza.

Officials said Sunday that the virulent H5N1 strain of bird flu killed chickens at a farm in Yeongam County, adding that a province-wide alert is in effect to stem the spread of the outbreak.

The province has set perimeters of 500 meters and three and 10 kilometers from the farm to contain the epidemic, while slaughtering 466,000 chickens and ducks at farms less than three kilometers away from the danger zone. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
http://english.kbs.co.kr/news/newsvi...key=2008041306