News in brief
South Korea steps up bird flu measures
South Korea is stepping up its bird flu protection measures after an influenza strain was found on a big duck farm in Gochang.
The country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said the H5 strain was identified on the farm of over 12,000 ducks on Saturday 18 November.
Government officials have also found traces of the highly pathogenic avian influenza strain H5N6 in wild bird droppings in the south of the country.
In response to the series of bird flu scares, South Korea has banned local poultry farmers from visiting areas in the country where migratory birds flock to.
A cull of 12,300 poultry at the farm in Gochang has also been requested as a preventative measure.
