Korean Job Discussion Forums

[toddswift]

BIRD FLU!!!!!!!!!

From what I read, korea has been enveloped with BIRD FLU! and all you read about is the beef issue, are these people just hiding their heads in the sand or what?




Second Bird Flu Outbreak Checked in Seoul

The government said it found a new case of bird flu in Seoul Sunday, less than a week after the highly virulent form of bird flu struck the capital.

Over 8,000 ducks and chickens were immediately culled at an illegally-run farm in Songpa District, the Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said. Those affected reportedly tested positive for the H5 strain, and whether it is a highly virulent form will be confirmed on Monday.

The outbreak comes after the virus found at an aviary in Gwangjin, eastern Seoul, was confirmed to be deadly to humans, last Monday. No human infection has yet been reported in Seoul, home to about 10 million people, or anywhere else in the country.

Quarantine officials said the two outbreaks trace back to the same traditional market in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province. The government recently announced it would ban the trade of live chickens and ducks at traditional markets often characterized by run-down, independent stalls selling low-priced merchandise.

About 15,000 birds are to be killed off in Seoul Sunday, and since the first bird flu outbreak of the year was reported last month in the country's southwestern region, the government has culled millions of birds and decontaminated numerous poultry farms, vehicles and traditional markets.

Nonetheless, the disease spread to Seoul last week, with the cities of Ulsan and Daegu also being affected. The quarantine officials confirmed on Sunday that the disease detected on a farm in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province, tested positive for highly virulent H5N1 strain, leaving only Jeju Island a safe zone from the disease nationwide.

Some fear the virus, which usually spreads from birds to humans, could mutate into a form easily transmissible between people, triggering a deadly global pandemic. About 240 people have reportedly died from the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain around the world after coming in contact with infected poultry.

However, health experts say the odds that humans can contract the disease are very unlikely. Cooking the meat at 75 degrees Celsius or higher for more than five minutes will kill the infection.

Also, Prof. Kim Jae-hong of Seoul National University said there is little chance that people will get infected by simply passing by or being in the same open area as infected poultry. ``If one avoids contact with such poultries' excrements and refrains from eating raw meats or eggs, I don't think people will be easily infected,'' he said.

[Join Me]

Get your head out of your arse. It doesn't involve bashing foreigners (this week it is America's turn) therefore by Korean standards it is not news.

[Lekker]

Well I'm American and I just ate chicken tonight. I guess I am on my way out and Koreans will be happy that one more American is dead. Peace out, nice knowing y'all.

[jetrash]

just heard
..all chickens and ducks are to be killed in Seoul..ASAP.

THE GOVT ACTION IS MORE SERIOUS THAN BEFORE,BECAUSE IT HASNT SPREAD IN SEOUL ON THIS SCALE BEFORE.

whatever,sure they will still be burning candles aginst american beef.

[Join Me]

Wouldn't it be interesting to find out that while the government was busy dealing with Koreans protesting US beef the whole bird flu situation was being mishandled by the government. That couldn't happen here could it?

[brento1138]

Well, obviously it's the mad cows faults for bringing Korea the bird flu! And rather than just kill the birds, why not just feed 'em kimchi!?? The media should get on top of this!

[ryouga013]

[daemyann]

I wondered why the reaction seemed to be so inconsistent as well, and so I thought about it.

Avian flu is already here.(in chicken)
The government is reacting to stop it and prevent the possibility of growth.

Mad cow disease is not here, and is equally potentially dangerous, if not more so. In the eyes of many Koreans, the government is NOT attempting to prevent the possibility of a mad cow disease outbreak. They have an opportunity to be proactive, but are bypassing it in favor of political camaraderie.

I actually agree with the importing of American beef, but I've come to understand at least some of the Hermit Kingdom's arguments.

Unfortunately there is, of course, a large portion of deliberate misinformation, spin and power-playing taking place, which makes it difficult to see the genuine argument.

[I-am-me]

Several people were hospitalised last week....yet no news this week about any other possible human contaminations.

[The Bobster]

[Ya-ta Boy]

One of my students is convinced that the mayor of Seoul has called for the killing of ALL birds in Seoul, including pigeons. I haven't seen anything in the online newspapers about this. Has anyone else seen/heard anything?

[zai]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jqd0PwdV581qJ3D48kXRHzrZWxvQD90KFKE00

looks like those damn pigeons are safe for now.

[CentralCali]

Drat.

[elicia]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4347443.stm

[elicia]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4347443.stm