South Korea detected suspected cases of bird flu

About 6,000 chickens died on a farm in Iksan City, southern Korea, raising concerns about the country's first bird flu outbreak in three years. Authorities said it would destroy about 6,000 other chickens. According to the plan, official test results will be announced by Korea on Saturday.

This time is the season of migratory birds flying across the Korean peninsula to the south to avoid the cold winter in Russia, Mongolia and Kazakhstan. The Korean Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said the farm is located just below the bird's migration path. Under this situation, South Korea will reinforce preventive measures such as keeping poultry in cages and checking wild birds to detect signs of bird flu.

* A Chinese research team said there was a link between SARS (acute respiratory infection syndrome) on human and civet bodies. This finding reinforces the idea that SARS spreads among different animals. The epidemic occurred in southern China in 2002 and spread globally to 8,000 people and 800 deaths.

Korean medical personnel observe birds
immigration on a field in Seosan (photo: TTO)

SN