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S. Korea detects avian influenza virus in cat food
14:27 August 02, 2023
(ATTN: ADDS more info on latest cases, contact tracing throughout)
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's agriculture ministry said Wednesday it has detected an H5 avian influenza (AI) strain in cat food, and ordered its manufacturer to recall and destroy the affected products.
Last month, a cat living at a shelter in Seoul's Gwanak district died after showing respiratory symptoms, and it was found Monday to have been infected with a highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza strain, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Follow-up tests on the facility showed that the H5 virus was detected in cat food used there, and its manufacturer, Nature's Raw, in the city of Gimpo, west of Seoul, had failed to abide by due sterilization procedures, the ministry said.
Whether the virus from the cat food is highly pathogenic will be determined in about two days.
"The company had not fully followed necessary sterilization steps over the course of manufacturing products since May 25. The government ordered the company to stop producing and selling the items, and to recall and destroy them," the ministry said in a release.
The company skipped the sterilization process due to the breakdown of its equipment, a ministry official said.
,,, the ministry decided to launch an inspection into all manufacturers of animal food using chicken, duck and other meats....Officials said four additional cases have been confirmed among cats in the two shelters, bringing the total caseload among cats to seven.
People who have had contact with the cats in the Gwanak and Yongsan shelters have not shown any symptoms, and there has not been a human AI infection through cats or other mammals......
The authorities are also grappling with how to deal with infected cats.
In accordance with related regulations, animals infected with the avian influenza are supposed to be culled, but it is not easy to force cat owners to administer mercy killing.
"We are reviewing an option of setting up facilities to isolate infected pets and treat them,.:tiphat:
source: https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230802003051320?section=search
14:27 August 02, 2023
(ATTN: ADDS more info on latest cases, contact tracing throughout)
SEOUL, Aug. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's agriculture ministry said Wednesday it has detected an H5 avian influenza (AI) strain in cat food, and ordered its manufacturer to recall and destroy the affected products.
Last month, a cat living at a shelter in Seoul's Gwanak district died after showing respiratory symptoms, and it was found Monday to have been infected with a highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza strain, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
Follow-up tests on the facility showed that the H5 virus was detected in cat food used there, and its manufacturer, Nature's Raw, in the city of Gimpo, west of Seoul, had failed to abide by due sterilization procedures, the ministry said.
Whether the virus from the cat food is highly pathogenic will be determined in about two days.
"The company had not fully followed necessary sterilization steps over the course of manufacturing products since May 25. The government ordered the company to stop producing and selling the items, and to recall and destroy them," the ministry said in a release.
The company skipped the sterilization process due to the breakdown of its equipment, a ministry official said.
,,, the ministry decided to launch an inspection into all manufacturers of animal food using chicken, duck and other meats....Officials said four additional cases have been confirmed among cats in the two shelters, bringing the total caseload among cats to seven.
People who have had contact with the cats in the Gwanak and Yongsan shelters have not shown any symptoms, and there has not been a human AI infection through cats or other mammals......
The authorities are also grappling with how to deal with infected cats.
In accordance with related regulations, animals infected with the avian influenza are supposed to be culled, but it is not easy to force cat owners to administer mercy killing.
"We are reviewing an option of setting up facilities to isolate infected pets and treat them,.:tiphat:
source: https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN20230802003051320?section=search
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