Seoul, Dec 24 (NationPress) South Korea has confirmed three additional cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza at poultry farms on Wednesday, increasing the total number of reported cases this season to 21.

The new infections were identified at a chicken farm located in Anseong, approximately 65 kilometers south of Seoul, a duck farm in the southwestern county of Gochang, and another duck farm in Naju, as reported by the Central Disaster Management Headquarters and Yonhap news agency.

In response, authorities have imposed entry restrictions to these farms, initiated the culling of infected animals, and are conducting thorough investigations into the outbreaks. A temporary standstill order on all farms and farming vehicles in the affected regions has also been enacted.

Inspections are set to occur at duck farms linked to the two affected duck farms, along with all duck farms in North Jeolla Province, where Gochang is situated.

Agriculture ministry officials are being sent to Anseong and the western city of Cheonan, areas with a heightened risk of additional cases.

In related news, Japan's agriculture ministry announced on Wednesday that genetic testing confirmed an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a farm in Kyoto Prefecture, marking the ninth bird flu outbreak in the country this season.

According to a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the outbreak occurred at a poultry farm in Kameoka City, which houses approximately 280,000 egg-laying chickens.

Local authorities received a report on Tuesday and conducted a rapid avian influenza test on the chickens that same day, yielding positive results. Genetic testing completed on Wednesday confirmed the infection with the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus.

In accordance with established guidelines, all chickens at the farm will be culled, incinerated, and buried. Furthermore, farms within a three-kilometer radius are prohibited from moving chickens and eggs, while those located three to ten kilometers away cannot transport poultry products outside their area.

Disinfection measures around the farm have been intensified to prevent further viral spread, and an epidemiological investigation team has been deployed. Experts from the ministry will be sent if necessary, as reported by Xinhua news agency.

The avian influenza season in Japan typically spans from autumn to the following spring. The previous eight outbreaks this season have resulted in the culling of nearly 2.4 million chickens, with the first case confirmed in the northernmost prefecture of Hokkaido on October 22.

Avian influenza, commonly referred to as bird flu, is a type of zoonotic influenza affecting wild birds and poultry, caused by virus sub-types A(H5N1) and A(H9N2). While it has occasionally infected humans, the virus does not easily transmit between humans. Most human cases of avian influenza have been linked to direct or indirect contact with infected live or dead poultry.