Gov't imposes nationwide ban on trade of live birds to fight bird flu

A poultry cage at Moran Market in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province is empty, Monday, after the government banned the trade of live birds the same day, in an effort to prevent the spread of bird flu. / Yonhap

By Kim Bo-eun

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs banned the trade of live poultry from midnight Sunday as part of steps to curb the spread of bird flu. The ban will last until June 25.

The measure came as the avian influenza outbreak is spreading to small farms through intermediary vendors.

It follows a trade ban which went into effect June 5 at traditional markets and restaurants that raise their own birds.

The trade of live birds will be allowed in cases where the birds pass clinical tests by the disease prevention authorities.

Infections of the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain have been confirmed in 21 locations nationwide as of Monday. They are six farms on Jeju; two in Gijang County of Busan; two in Gunsan, three in Iksan, one each in Wanju, Jeonju and Imsil in North Jeolla Province; one in Paju, Gyeonggi Province; one in Yangsan, South Gyeongsang Province; and three in the southeastern city of Ulsan.

Tests are being conducted on 14 suspected cases — one in Wanju, four in Gunsan, two in Iksan, four in Imsil, one in Sunchang, North Jeolla Province; and two in Goseong, South Gyeongsang Province.

Most recently, two suspected cases in Goseong tested positive, Saturday. Chickens died at two farms after they brought in newly purchased turkeys and silkie chickens.

A total of 185,000 birds have been culled — 182,000 chickens, 1,000 ducks and 2,000 other birds — at 180 farms since the bird flu broke out 10 days ago, following a winter outbreak.

Meanwhile, there have been no cases of human infections so far.

Authorities have ordered Jeju, where six cases of bird flu have been confirmed including the first, to watch out for human infection. A total of 145,000 birds at 34 farms have been put down there.

They have warned against infections through Chinese tourists who visit the southern island in large numbers. A bird flu outbreak in China resulted in 529 human infections of the H7N9 strain and 211 deaths in the first fourth months of this year.

According to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC), there are no concerns of human infection of the bird flu virus through chicken or duck consumption as long as they are cooked sufficiently as the virus does not withstand high temperatures.

In the meantime, authorities also advised against coming to direct contact with live birds or visiting poultry farms.

Anyone who shows symptoms such as fever or coughing after coming into contact with poultry must report to a local health center or call the KCDC at 1399.