- विज्ञापन -
Seoul: South Korea has confirmed its 20th case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) this winter season, detected at an egg farm in Gyeonggi Province. The case was reported from a layer poultry farm in Yeoju, approximately 65 kilometers east of Seoul, with authorities taking swift action to contain the outbreak.
In response to the new case, about 104,000 chickens have been culled at the affected farm, along with an additional 52,000 chicks at a nearby broiler farm as a precautionary measure. This recent detection follows the last confirmed case on December 31 at an egg farm in North Chungcheong Province, where 44,000 chickens were also culled after an increase in livestock deaths was reported.
In related news, researchers from Singapore’s Diagnostics Development Hub (DxD Hub) and Japan have introduced Steadfast, an advanced diagnostic kit designed for the rapid detection of the H5N1 avian influenza virus. This innovative tool can identify highly pathogenic H5 strains within three hours, significantly improving monitoring capabilities amid the ongoing threat of avian influenza, which has led to mass fatalities among birds and a potential risk to both domestic and wild animals, as well as humans.
