Gov't investigating link between wild birds, avian influenza outbreak ( 07/02/12 ) | |||||
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Part | Charger | kyj | date | 07/02/12 | |
The government said Monday (Feb. 12) that it is investigating the possible link between wild migratory birds and the outbreak of the avian influenza in Korea.
Specimens of blood and feces are being collected from wild ducks and geese that fly south and spend the winter in Korea, the Ministry of Finance and Economy said.
Korea has reported six separate outbreaks of the bird flu since Nov. 25. The latest case was discovered in Anseong, 77 kilometers south of Seoul.
The country's animal quarantine authorities have been on high alert since November when migratory birds flock to the country from the north.
It said 500 samples are to be collected from across the country by the end of April for detailed analysis to determine if there is any correlation between wild birds and bird flu outbreaks among domestic chicken and ducks. The collection of samples and other data will allow scientists to better track the movement of birds in the country.
At present, there is no concrete proof that wild birds transmit the disease. The avian virus is only transmitted between birds, while a mutation of the virus can be transmitted to humans.
The ministry, meanwhile, said that it has culled and buried 297,000 animals from 13 farms within 3 kilometers of the chicken farm that reported the latest bird flu outbreak in Anseong on Saturday.
It said movement of domestic birds and eggs within a 10-kilometer radius of the farm will be banned for the time being to prevent the spread of the disease.
Bird flu outbreaks hurt poultry farmers because it affects both domestic demand and exports. A country reporting a case of the bird flu cannot export poultry abroad. Korea previously reported an outbreak in the winter of 2003-2004.
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