New suspected cases raise concerns on spreading

By Kim Se-jeong

Multiple new suspected bird flu cases have been reported over the weekend, renewing concerns that the pathogenic poultry disease may spread again.

On Sunday, two suspected cases were reported at two duck farms in Youngam and Younggwang, South Jeolla Province, and a chicken farm in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, the agriculture ministry said Sunday.

These followed a chicken farm in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, which reported a suspected case on Saturday. South Jeolla Province has the nation’s largest duck farm cluster.

All are undergoing laboratory examinations for confirmation.

A virulent H5N8 strain of avian influenza has been confirmed in 23 cases across the country since it was first detected on Jan. 16 in Gochang, North Jeolla Province. Nationwide, more than 2.4 million chickens and ducks have been culled so far, breaking a record for poultry killed in connection with the bird flu.

The highly pathogenic strain of bird flu has been identified in 13 other cases that involved wild birds, which made relevant government agencies identify migratory wild birds as possible sources of the pathogen, but no conclusion has been reached.

Health officials said the H5N8 strain, unlike a few other strains of bird flu, poses no immediate threats to humans. The outbreak of bird flu has diminished the national consumption of chicken and ducks.

The authorities have buried all live poultry within a 3-kilometer perimeter of the outbreak of the disease, sparking protests from animal rights activists.

However, authorities argue that it is the most practical and quickest remedy to contain the situation.