SEOUL – South Korea’s Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ministry today said it has completed the “destruction” of 21.7 million birds since late November last year to prevent the spread of a highly pathogenic avian flu at poultry farms, reported the Yonhap news agency.
Confirmed cases of the H5N8 strain numbered 72 yesterday, said the ministry.
The latest case was traced to an egg farm in Hwaseong, south of the capital.
With authorities culling more birds near infected farms, the prices of the related food items continue to rise.
Over the past week, the average price of eggs shot up 24.8% from a year ago, while chicken and duck meat increased by 14.9% and 18.1%, respectively.
South Korea plans to import up to 50,000 tonnes of fresh eggs and seven types of egg products without tariffs until the end of June.
Bird flu cases traced to wild populations have also shown no sign of declining, with 95 infections recorded. – Bernama, January 25, 2021
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