Agricultural News
South Korea Raises Crisis Warning Level to "Serious" for the First Time Ever Amid Bird Flu Outbreak
Fri, 23 Dec 2016 16:19:39 CST
In what seems to be an annual occurrence now, since South Korea's first outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza in 2003, the Asian nation is again battling the epidemic. This time they are fighting both a familiar strain and a new strain, H5N6, never seen before within their borders.
The first case of HPAI this year was reported on November 16th and has since continued to spread rapidly. Thus far, the magnitude of the affect has involved 92 reported cases, 76 of which have been confirmed by authorities. In total 204 farms have been confirmed positive for HPAI. Pursuant to Korean policy standards, more than 16.7 million birds on 344 farms have been culled at this point, with plans to cull an additional 2.4 million on 22 farms.
Reports indicate that the outbreak has largely impacted layer hens, although ducks and quail have also been affected. There is word spreading already that egg prices are starting to rise there.
South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs informs us that there are currently five genotypes of H5N6 and one genotype of H5N8 in circulation.
Two days after the initial reports of the outbreak, the South Korean government raised the crisis warning level to "serious," the highest level on the scale. This is the first time that the Korean government has raised the warning to this level. As a result of this designation, a more intensive government response will be invoked. Precautions to curb the spread of infection are being taken including the close monitoring and restriction of travel and transportation and more frequent, preemptive disinfections.
South Korea experienced its largest outbreak in 2014, which resulted in the culling of approximately 14 million birds.
To view the GAIN report detailing South Korea's recent outbreak of HPAI, click here.
Source - Global Agricultural Information Network
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