After the South Korean Agriculture and Forestry Ministry announced that approximately 6,000 chickens in one farm died as a result of bird flu infection, the Japanese government has suspended imports of South Korean poultry.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Yasuhisa Shiozaki, added that people coming into Japan from South Korea will have to disinfect the soles of their shoes.
Authorities in South Korea say the outbreak is of a ‘low-grade’ strain of bird flu. The affected farm is located south of the capital Seoul. Ministry officials say the strain is definitely not the virulent H5N1 nor the milder H5N2. Officials stressed that humans are not at risk.
The remaining chickens at the farm are being disinfected, say authorities.
It is suspected there may be another bird flu strain, perhaps H5N1, southwest of the capital.
— South Korean Agriculture and Forestry Ministry – In Korean
— South Korean Agriculture and Forestry Ministry – In English
Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Editor: Medical News Today