H5 Spread To Nonsan South Korea Confirmed
Recombinomics Commentary 15:09
April 24, 2008
Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province on the 24th ssiohri talisman for a duck farm in pyesahan of the National Science geomyeokwon of avian influenza (AI) inspection results, H5 antigen positive come out of the farm, AI infection of the virus are interested in the course of the year.
The above translation indicates that the excessive poultry death and drop in egg production in Nonsan has been linked to H5. Since testing is at an early stage, the H5 in the ducks has not been characterized as H5N1. However, to date low path H5 has not been reported. Earlier OIE reports from Korea this season have been HPAI H5N1 or HPAI H5.
The detection of HPAI has been widespread (see satellite map), which is why low path infection of the H5 positive soldier is unlikely. He had been culling chickens and ducks and subsequently developed bird flu symptoms which included pneumonia, high fever, and loss of consciousness. He quickly responded to treatment with antibiotics and Tamiflu, which may be due in part to chemoprophylaxis, which is given to all cullers.
The military withdrew from culling operations after the H5 positive results were announced, but is again culling birds because of the continuing spread. H5N1 positive farms and the number of birds culled is at record levels.
More data, including sequence information, on infected birds (and the soldier), would be useful.
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