Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
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[TD="width: 450"]New cases of avian influenza and foot-and-mouth diseases (FMD) were confirmed over the weekend despite increased quarantine efforts, stoking fears that the animal diseases could spread further.
Health officials in Seoul confirmed Saturday that they found the H5N8 bird flu virus strain in wild bird excrement collected from the Jungnang Stream in northeastern Seoul last week.
"This marks the first confirmed bird flu case in Seoul," said an official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Last month avian influenza was detected in a dog at a duck farm in Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province, which had reported an outbreak of the poultry disease.
After the bird flu case was confirmed in the capital, the city government immediately banned human access to the stream. The point where the excrement was collected is known for migratory birds and attracts many visitors.
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[TD="width: 450"]"We banned bird viewing activities temporarily and the zoo and aviaries in the city were told to cover their bird cages," the official said.
Avian flu is mainly contracted by exposure to infected birds, but the virus can also be carried through air.
The official said that the current outbreak has been caused by the H5N8 strain, which is harmless to people. But fear persists as the H7N9 strain can kill people, as it did in China in January. No case of human infection with bird flu has ever been reported in Korea.
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dated : 2015-02-08 20:36
Bird flu virus spreads to Seoul
Bird flu virus spreads to Seoul
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[TD="width: 450"]New cases of avian influenza and foot-and-mouth diseases (FMD) were confirmed over the weekend despite increased quarantine efforts, stoking fears that the animal diseases could spread further.
Health officials in Seoul confirmed Saturday that they found the H5N8 bird flu virus strain in wild bird excrement collected from the Jungnang Stream in northeastern Seoul last week.
"This marks the first confirmed bird flu case in Seoul," said an official from the Seoul Metropolitan Government.
Last month avian influenza was detected in a dog at a duck farm in Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province, which had reported an outbreak of the poultry disease.
After the bird flu case was confirmed in the capital, the city government immediately banned human access to the stream. The point where the excrement was collected is known for migratory birds and attracts many visitors.
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[TD="width: 450"]"We banned bird viewing activities temporarily and the zoo and aviaries in the city were told to cover their bird cages," the official said.
Avian flu is mainly contracted by exposure to infected birds, but the virus can also be carried through air.
The official said that the current outbreak has been caused by the H5N8 strain, which is harmless to people. But fear persists as the H7N9 strain can kill people, as it did in China in January. No case of human infection with bird flu has ever been reported in Korea.
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