Seoul raises alert against bird flu reflecting rapid spread

Seoul raises alert against bird flu reflecting rapid spread

South Korea has raised its alert against bird flu to reflect the rapid spread of the disease across the country, the government said yesterday. The agriculture ministry said the alert was lifted to the second highest level because the virulent strain of avian influenza has spread to four provinces since the first outbreak was confirmed on December 31. There have been 16 confirmed cases in birds so far. “In light of the rapid spread of the disease there is a need to take more stringent measures,” a ministry official said. Under the new alert level all birds within a three-kilometre radius of an outbreak will be culled as a precautionary measure.