Suspect H5N1 on South Korean Duck Farm
Recombinomics Commentary
December 4, 2007
A South Korean duck farm has reported a suspected bird flu outbreak, prompting sterilization by health officials, the Agriculture Ministry said Tuesday.
'Health officials have been sterilising a farming village in Jincheon where ducks showed symptoms of infection by avian influenza,' a ministry spokesman said.
The local authorities have sealed off the farm, 90km south of Seoul, and are awaiting the results of blood tests, he said.
South Korea reported seven cases of infection by the H5N1 strain of bird flu between November 2006 and March this year, hitting its poultry exports to Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan and elsewhere.
The above comments support an H5N1 outbreak in South Korea. Ducks rarely show symptoms of avian influenza unless infected with H5N1. An H5N1 outbreak is expected in south Korea at this time of the year because of wild bird migration routes. H5N1 was confirmed in late 2003 and 2006, and both outbreaks were followed by H5N1 in Japan.
H5N1 was just confirmed in Jiangsu province in a fatal infection, providing additional support for migrating H5N1 in the area.
More information would be useful, but clade 2.2 (Qinghai) H5N1 infections in South Korea and Japan are expected.
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