Bird Flu Hits Korean Ducks
SOUTH KOREA - One wild duck has been found dead and a duck farm has been hit by H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).The veterinary authority has sent Follow Up Report No. 3 dated 7 January to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
The report describes the discovery of a dead duck (mandarin duck, Aix galericulata) on 30 December at Sinbyeok-dong in Sacheon city, which is in Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang) in the south of the country.
On 5 January, 4,500 ducks at a farm at Bongso-ri in Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla) in the south-west of the country were reported to have died. The remainder of the flock – some 10,000 birds – was destroyed.
The presence of the H5N1 sub-type of the HPAI virus was confirmed in each case.
The report continues that the dead wild mandarin duck was reported to the local authorities. The tests carried out in the NVRQS detected H5N1 HPAI virus antigen from some samples. The area within 10-km radius from the detection spot was put under movement control. Disinfection and clinical surveillance in that area has been intensified.
There was also a notification of HPAI suspected cases in a farm. 4,500 out of 14,500 ducks were dead in 5 days. It was proved as HPAI virus H5N1 subtype in NVRQS. The poultry in the affected farm and in the area within 500-metre radius from the affected farm were culled and buried. Disinfection and clinical surveillance in the area within 10-km radius from the affected farm has been intensified.
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