Bird Flu and Hog Cholera…

The highly infectious strain of bird flu is spreading across South Korea as new cases of suspected fatal bird flu were reported from additional duck farms in Naju and Sunchon, South Cholla Province. Moreover, hog cholera has broken out again in Kimhae, South Kyongsang Province for the first time in eight months.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said on Monday that the avian influenza was detected on Sunday from two additional duck farms in Naju and Sunchon, South Cholla Province.

The farms in Naju suspected to have been contaminated with the disease are located within a few kilometers from the duck farm which the officials verified that it had the bird flu late Sunday. The Sunchon farm, meanwhile, was found to have received ducklings from a duck breeding farm in Chonan, which the government confirmed had the symptoms of highly pathogenic avian influenza, also known as H5N1 virus, on Saturday.

63.1 percent of the ducks bred in South Korea are raised in farms in Naju and Sunchon, the greatest habitats of the ducks as of last year. Therefore, as the virus spreads in the region, it is possible for the nation to run short of duck meat.

As of Monday, five farms, including an additional two farms recently added to the list, are being inspected for the avian influenza, while nine farms were confirmed to have the disease. However, a test on the duck farms in Anseong, Kyungki Province, which had been suspected of having symptoms of the avian influenza, came out negative.

As the bird flu is spreading nationwide, the government decided to strengthen the quarantine measures by increasing the status of the quarantine officer from commissioner to vice minister starting from Monday.

Prime Minister Goh Kun visited the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry on Monday, reminding the officials of a worst case situation in which the Netherlands had to slaughter more than half of its ducks due to late treatment. He added to say that killing about a third of the poultry would be an answer to the current problem.

Meanwhile, the South Kyungsang Provincial government said on Monday it received a report that 450 out of 1,600 pigs raised in a farm in the region (Kimhae) were confirmed as being infected with the hog cholera. It also said that 552 pigs in the region, including both those confirmed with contamination and suspected of being infected, have been slaughtered and buried. The hog cholera broke out last April in the region.

As a result of the outbreaks, it is reasonable to expect pig exporters to face difficulties with their business. Pig exports to Russia and Mongolia had been suspended due to hog cholera and foot-and-mouth disease until last month.

The pigs at infected farms are prohibited from moving for 40 days, and are able to be shipped only after thorough inspection guaranteeing the safety. A total of six regions, Kyongju and Sangju, North Kyungsang Province, Anseong, south of Seoul, Dangjin, South Chungchong Province, Ulju, Ulsan faced outbreaks of hog cholera in the second half of this year.