Second H5N1 Bird Flu Outbreak In South Korea

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Main Category: Bird Flu / Avian Flu
Also Included In: Veterinary
Article Date: 28 Nov 2006 - 8:00 PDT

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A second H5N1 bird flu outbreak has occurred at a farm in the Hwangdeung district, just two miles from the farm where an outbreak hit last week, say South Korean authorities. All poultry and some other livestock will be culled within a half-kilometer radius of the farm, as was the case with the other farm. Officials are considering whether to extend the radius to 3 kilometers.

Authorities are culling 236,000 poultry and destroying 6 million eggs as a result of last week's outbreak. About 600 cats and dogs are also to be culled. Humans who live in the immediate area are being vaccinated. There are no reports of human infection.

Officials at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Rome, Italy, say there is no scientific evidence that humans can catch bird flu from cats and dogs. The FAO says the culling of cats and dogs is not necessary.

When an outbreak of H5N1 bird flu infection hits a farm, it is common practice to destroy all the poultry in that farm and restrict the movement of animals and poultry in the immediate area. This measure is usually effective in stemming the spread of bird flu.

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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