Bird Flu Hits 27 Farms

[Anchor Lead]

A total of 27 farms across the country have now tested positive for avian influenza as reports of possible infections have been pouring in. Shipments of live chickens and ducks have been banned in areas affected by a highly pathogenic strain of the virus in an attempt to prevent the epidemic from spreading further.

[Pkg]

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said that more reports of suspected AI cases have been received from two farms in Gunsan and Imsil, Jeollabuk-do Province. Including earlier reports received from Iksan and Gunsan, so far a total of 27 farms have tested positive for avian influenza. Of those, eleven have been diagnosed with the highly pathogenic H5N8 strain. The remaining farms were found to have been affected either by the H5N8 or the H5 strain, and are very likely to be diagnosed with the highly pathogenic strain. Shipments of live chickens and ducks from the affected areas have been banned since Thursday. The AI quarantine headquarters have been upgraded to central government disaster and safety countermeasures headquarters, while the AI alert level is being maintained at "serious," which is the highest level. The ban on live poultry transactions at garden-type restaurants and traditional markets remains in effect. The government has decided to enact a regulation mandating traditional market vendors sell poultry only after butchering.