Korea destroyed poultry

Map of Iksan area with H5N1 outbreak (Photo: BBC)

Korean epidemiological sanitation officials will destroy 236,000 poultry, after an outbreak of influenza caused by the H5N1 virus was discovered in the country.

The outbreak is located in Iksan, 250 km south of Seoul. South Korean Ministry of Agriculture officials said tests confirmed that the strain causing the flu was H5N1. All birds and poultry within a radius of 500m from the outbreak will be destroyed to prevent the virus from spreading. Park Yong-jong, Iksan city official, said the destruction campaign began on Sunday morning.

Health officials in the country have said no people have been infected with the virus so far. In 2003, when bird flu spread to South Korea, the country destroyed about 5.3 million animals.

Since 2003, bird flu has killed 153 people worldwide. What is most feared by health professionals is that the virus can change and spread to people, causing a global pandemic.

Korean animal quarantine officials go to destroy poultry.Letters on the board record: Quarantine inspection . (Photo: AP)

T. Huyen