Seoul, Jan 10 (NationPress) South Korea has confirmed two additional instances of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI), which raises the total number of outbreaks for this season to 23, according to reports from authorities on Friday.
The latest cases were identified on Monday at a broiler breeder farm located in Dangjin, approximately 79 km south of Seoul, as well as at a meat duck farm in Buan, situated around 204 km south of the capital, as reported by the central disaster management headquarters for AI outbreaks, according to Yonhap news agency.
Officials are closely monitoring 69 poultry farms within the quarantine zones surrounding the two infected sites to curb any further spread of the virus, stated the anti-disaster office.
Recently, the highly pathogenic bird flu virus has led to significant mortality rates among chickens and wild birds globally. Infections have also affected seals, cats, cattle, and even transmitted from cattle to humans, raising concerns about the potential for a new pandemic virus.
Earlier this week, the United States reported its first human fatality linked to bird flu or H5N1.
The Louisiana Department of Health confirmed in a news release that the patient had been hospitalized with the first human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, as reported by Xinhua news agency.
The patient was over 65 years old and had pre-existing medical conditions. The infection occurred after exposure to a mix of a non-commercial backyard flock and wild birds, according to the department.
The department also noted that this patient remains the only human case of H5N1 in Louisiana, and comprehensive public health investigations have not uncovered any additional H5N1 cases or indications of person-to-person transmission.
Although the current public health risk for the general population is deemed low, individuals working with birds, poultry, or cattle, or engaging in recreational activities involving these animals, are at an elevated risk, state officials cautioned, emphasizing that the best way to prevent H5N1 infections is to avoid exposure.
As of Monday, there have been 66 confirmed human cases of H5N1 bird flu in the United States since 2024 and 67 since 2022.
Globally, over 950 cases of H5N1 bird flu have been reported to the World Health Organization, with approximately half resulting in death, according to the CDC.
The CDC highlighted that no person-to-person transmission has been confirmed. The agency is thoroughly reviewing the information regarding the individual who died in Louisiana and maintains that the public risk remains low.
