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The government plans to strengthen monitoring of open bird markets as part of preventative measures against avian influenza. / Korea Times |
By Kim Tae-jong
Staff Reporter
Quarantine authorities said Tuesday that the virus strain of avian influenza that swept the country in April could be transmitted to mammals, but not necessarily to humans.
The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries sent samples from infected birds to the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention for detailed analysis.
The U.S. agency concluded the virus from the sample could be transmitted to mammals but that there was no proof it could infect humans, an official from the ministry said.
``It was impossible to directly test if it can cause illness in humans. Alternatively, we chose a weasel for testing and when it was infected, it showed similar symptoms to bird flu,'' the official said at a news briefing.
He declined a ``yes or no'' answer over the possibility of the virus infecting humans, citing the lack of human testing.
He said the ministry was implementing a system to monitor poultry farms and bird habitats all year round and set up new procedures to quickly cope with any bird flu outbreaks.
The decision came as the disease caused massive damage to the nation last April ― some 8.46 million birds were culled at a cost of 263 billion won ($260 million).
The ministry said it will specially monitor all 2,300 duck farms in the country because ducks have a longer incubation period for bird flu and were found to be the main cause of the spread. Chickens die more quickly from the disease.
The government will strengthen countermeasures against less virulent strains of bird flu and implement preventative culling to prevent possible mutation. It will also strengthen monitoring of traditional open-air markets and distributors to check for signs of sick birds or sudden deaths, and push new laws to prevent restaurants from butchering infected birds.
The sale of live birds at traditional markets to restaurants contributed to the spread of this year's outbreak. On the cause of the latest outbreak, migratory birds that spend the winter in warmer climates may been responsible as they stopped in South Korea on their way north, government officials said.
The ministry said all countermeasures to cull and disinfect areas affected by this year's bird flu outbreak were concluded by May 15, so South Korea can declare itself a ``clean zone'' to the World Organization for Animal Health on August 15.
e3dward@koreatimes.co.kr
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