Published Date: 2003-12-23 23:50:00
Subject: PRO/AH/EDR> Avian influenza - South Korea (05)
Archive Number: 20031223.3120
AVIAN INFLUENZA - SOUTH KOREA (05)
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Date: Tue 23 Dec 2003
From: ProMED-mail <promed@promedmail.org>
Source: Reuters Health eLine, Mon 22 Dec 2003 [edited]
<http://www.reutershealth.com/en/index.html>
South Korea: Avian Influenza Spreading Across Country
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Nearly a million chickens and ducks will be slaughtered across South
Korea to combat a highly contagious strain of [avian influenza virus]
that has spread across the country and could also infect humans, the
government said on Mon 22 Dec 2003. [So far there has been no
evidence of transmission of avian influenza virus from chickens and
ducks to humans during the course of this outbreak of avian influenza
A(H5N1) virus in South Korea. - Mod.CP]
Avian influenza, which in rare cases can be deadly to humans, has
caused poultry sales to tumble as authorities confirm outbreaks at
farm after farm across the country.
"To contain the spread of the disease, we have decided to conduct
intensified disinfection measures," a statement from the Agriculture
Ministry said on Mon 22 Dec 2003. Since authorities confirmed last
Monday [15 Dec 2003] the 1st [outbreak of avian influenza] among
chickens at a farm 80 km (50 miles) southeast of Seoul, cases have
since been discovered at 8 more poultry farms, and another 6 farms
are being tested for suspected infections.
Faced with the rapid increase in cases, the agricultural authorities
have raised slaughter targets to about 950 000 birds among the 100
million chickens and 8 million ducks in the poultry sector. So far,
1/3 of the target poultry stocks have been destroyed by gas, and
later buried. Prime Minister Goh Kun stated that the government
should err on the side of caution and cull as many birds as
necessary. He cited the example of the Netherlands, which slaughtered
around 26 million birds -- or more than 1/2 the poultry population --
after an outbreak of avian influenza was discovered in February 2003.
"Working with the resolve that we may have to destroy 1/3 of the
total poultry population is one way to contain the disease," Goh told
agriculture ministry officials.
South Korean consumers have shunned poultry, and the country's modest
exports to Japan, Hong Kong, and China have virtually stopped,
prompting authorities to support prices. The farm ministry stepped in
to buy 2.5 million chickens after producer prices plunged by 30
percent to 693 won/kg ($0.581) from early this month [one US dollar
equates to 1193 South Korean won. - Mod.CP]. The ministry said the
disease had spread over the past week through transport of chickens
and ducks from infected breeding centers before the disease had been
diagnosed. The agricultural authorities are now monitoring all of the
country's duck hatcheries and slaughterhouses, intensifying
disinfection measures and restricting the transport of birds. They
are also investigating migratory birds as a possible cause of the
fast spread of the disease.
Icy winter weather has hampered efforts by troops, firefighters, and
police to contain the disease, spread by a virus that is more active
at lower temperatures. [Transmission of respiratory viruses occurs
more easily at lower temperatures due to longer survival of the virus
in the environment and perhaps reduced resistance of the host. -
Mod.CP]. In a bid to show boiled meat is safe for consumption,
agriculture minister Huh Sang-man joined and civic groups for a
poultry lunch on Monday, following similar events last week.
The Korean authorities have asked U.S. experts for help in
determining whether the virus [responsible for this outbreak] is
genetically similar to the [strain of avian influenza A (H5N1) virus]
that killed 6 people in Hong Kong in 1997 and 1998. Hundreds of
people living in the affected areas have undergone blood tests,
although no one has shown symptoms of the disease.
[Byline: Cho Mee-young]
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ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>
See Also
Avian influenza - South Korea (04) 20031220.3098Avian influenza - South Korea (03): confirmed 20031216.3070
Avian influenza - South Korea (02): OIE 20031213.3049
Avian influenza - South Korea: suspected 20031212.3047
Avian influenza, human - Netherlands (13) 20030501.1092
Avian influenza, human - Netherlands (12) 20030425.1011
Avian influenza, human - Netherlands (11) 20030423.0991
Avian Influenza, human - Netherlands (10): fatal case 20030420.0967
Avian Influenza, human - Netherlands (09): fatal case 20030419.0959
Avian Influenza, human - Netherlands (08) 20030327.0762
Avian influenza, human - Netherlands 20030311.0594
Influenza A (H9N2), child - China (Hong Kong) (02) 20031210.3028
Influenza, H5N1 human case - China (Hong Kong) (05) 20030228.0500
Influenza, H5N1 human case - China (Hong Kong) 20030219.0428
....................cp/pg/lm
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