SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA: The S Korean government Monday (7 Apr) confirmed a second outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza in a southwestern duck farm, reviving fears that the highly contagious virus could spread to other parts of the country.

Two other farms in the region also reported ducks dying unexpectedly, possibly an indication of more bird flu cases. The government Monday slaughtered a combined 240,000 chickens and ducks in 19 farms that were potentially infected by avian influenza.

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said test results showed that the H5N1 strain caused the death of ducks in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province - 268 kilometers south of Seoul.

Quarantine authorities are also looking into reports from two more poultry farms in Jeongeup and Gimje of possible H5N1 infection.

The first H5N1 outbreak was on April 3 at an egg farm in Gimje, 27 kilometers from the site. The outbreak led to the killing of 308,000 chickens.

"Whether or not the virus has spread will be initially determined late this week or early next week," Kim Chang-seob, chief veterinary officer at the ministry, said at a briefing.

Quarantine authorities raised concerns that the lethal virus could spread to another 12 farms in the province via five vehicles which transported poultry from the farm between April 3 and April 5.

The government banned the shipment of poultry from all of the farms and 12 more farms that were within 1,000 meters of the outbreak.

The ministry ordered the culling of 30,099 ducks at the farm and slaughter of another 158,500 chickens and ducks in the 12 farms that the five vehicles visited.

Health officials also killed another 80,000 ducks in other farms.

It said 62,000 ducks were sold between 3 April and 4 April, and it has been trying to recall them. They also said it was still safe to eat fully-cooked poultry.

"It will take three to four months to identify the cause of the outbreak," said Kim.

The previous cases of avian influenza in 2003-2004 and 2006-2007 were caused by migratory birds. The latest outbreak has struck Korea later in the year, puzzling quarantine officials.

The ministry allocated 10 billion won ($10 million) in compensation for poultry that are slaughtered for disease control, Kim said. Full or partial compensation is available only when suspected cases are reported to quarantine authorities.

Those who do not report suspected outbreaks face up to 50 million won in fines and a one-year prison term under the law.

The last time H5NI strain was reported in Korea was March 2007. Korea has had seven cases of the highly virulent strain between 2006 and 2007 and 19 cases between 2003 and 2004.

No case of humans contracting avian influenza has been found in Korea. The H5NI strain of bird flu has killed more than 230 people worldwide since late 2003, the World Health Organization said. (By JIN HYUN-JOO/ The Korea Herald/ ANN)