Avian influenza returns to South Korea

South Korea’s Ministry for Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in Seoul this week confirmed a new case of avian influenza, the ninth confirmation since the middle of September, according to Yonhap. The latest cases are on a duck farm in Naju, which is in South Jeolla Province in the southwestern portion of the country. Birds there have tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).  All 15,600 ducks have been culled as a precautionary measure, bringing the total destroyed so far to 112,031. The farm has been placed under quarantine.
The latest outbreak is seen as a continuation of the outbreak that hit the country from September of 2014 through June of 2015.
After two duck farms in South Jeolla tested positive for avian influenza on September 18, the virus was detected at two traditional markets, a bird holding facility and a restaurant that serves poultry. Ducks at two other farms were culled after the virus was found there.
The virus involved in the recent outbreaks has been identified as the H5N8 subtype, Yonhap reported previously. All cases in the current wave of highly pathogenic avian influenza have been in the province of South Jeolla (Jeollanam-do).