SEOUL – South Korea has completed the culling of 6.1 million poultry to curb the nationwide spread of a highly pathogenic bird flu, as the total farm-related caseload reaches 18, the Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ministry said today.
The destroyed poultry included four million chickens and 1.2 million quails, Yonhap news agency quoting the ministry said.
It said under the local law, poultry within a 3-km radius of farms infected with highly pathogenic bird flu must be culled.
South Korea has reported 18 bird flu cases at farms since November.
The virus has especially spread at a faster pace in South Jeolla province, which accounted for six infections. Four were from North Jeolla province.
According to Yonhap, local authorities have been vigilant as the virus is expected to haunt local poultry farms down the road, with migratory birds set to continue flying into the country through early next year.
The country reported this year’s first highly pathogenic avian influenza case from wild birds in late October. A total of 29 cases were confirmed from wild bird habitats across the country. – Bernama, December 18, 2020
