Korea Bird Flu Curtailed - SOUTH KOREA - Korea seems to have finally curtailed the fatal spread of bird flu. For the first time in two weeks, no new suspected case has been reported, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.

"For the first time since the outbreak of bird flu two weeks ago, the ministry received no further reports of suspected cases on Sunday and Monday morning," said Kim Chang-seop, chief of the livestock department of the ministry. "We also expect most of the 10 tests of suspected cases to turn out negative today."

Since the sickness surfaced in South Korea on Dec. 15, chickens and ducks at 14 farms in North Chungcheong Province, the center of the outbreak, tested positive for the H5N1 virus, which causes the flu.

Seventeen farms are still awaiting test results, while 18 others were found to be negative, according to agriculture officials.

Agriculture and quarantine officials have been battling the highly contagious flu that has killed chickens and ducks. Nearly two million chickens and ducks have already been culled to contain the disease.

Although most strains of H5N1 are not transmittable to humans, South Koreans are avoiding eating chicken or duck, sending prices dropping nearly 40%.

The first case of bird flu was reported at a farm in Eumseong County, North Chungcheong Province on Dec. 15

Source: eFeedLink - 29th December 2003