//16 May 2011
Korea’s poultry industry has weathered a series of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks over the last several months with no noticeable impact on the country’s broiler meat production, according to a Gain Report by the USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service.
Poultry consumption has also increased due to a shortage of local pork, high red meat prices, and fears about radiation-contaminated seafood from Japan. As a result, this year’s import estimate was raised 22% to 110,000 tons. In response to high prices, the government has announced its intent to open a zero duty tariff-rate quota (TRQ) for chicken, but exact details have not yet been revealed.
HPAI outbreaks
H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks began in wild birds located in the southern part of the country. The virus quickly spread, affecting commercial duck and chicken operations in 52 farms in 6 provinces. The last case was reported on April 18. Poultry on the affected farms has been culled and those premises within a 500 meter radius were also depopulated as a pre-emptive measure.
As of April 25, 2011, the number of culled poultry has reached a record of 6.4 million birds. Nonetheless, local broiler meat (chicken) production and consumption is expected to remain relatively unchanged from earlier estimates since the scope of the outbreak is relatively small in terms of total inventories. In addition, the affected broiler growers are expected to quickly re-populate their flocks. The largest HPAI outbreak before this latest string of cases was in spring 2008 when 3.45 millions of poultry were culled.
Poultry consumption
Korean consumers are not cutting back on chicken consumption because of the recent spate of HPAI cases in large part because they have already lived through past outbreaks and are well aware that proper handling and cooking eliminate the already low risk of contamination, the report stated.
Showing posts with label outbreaks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label outbreaks. Show all posts
08 May 2011
South Korea still not 100% FMD free – two new outbreaks in pigs
//06 May 2011
Although occurring with low swine morbidity rates, two new outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) have been confirmed in South Korea in the end of April, Pro-Med Mail reports.
The outbreaks have been found on two farms near Yeongcheon-city in North Gyeongsang province, in the east of South Korea. Of a total of 2,800 susceptible animals, only 21 animals died. One farm has 2,000 pigs (17 infected), the other 800 (four infected).
Setback
The finding of two more cases confirms a setback in South Korea’s approach to control the Foot-and-Mouth outbreak, which started in November 2010 and reached its peak in February 2011, at the expense of the culling of over 2.5 million animals with losses estimated to exceed US$2 million.
In the end of March, having included vaccination in its approach, and encouraged by the fact that no new cases appeared since the end of February, Seoul assumed that the highly contagious disease was largely contained and hence downgraded the alert level ‘red’ to ‘orange’. In mid-April, the alert level was further lowered from ‘orange’ to ‘yellow,’ the second-lowest level in the four-tiered alert system.
Unfortunately, on April 16, after absence of the disease for almost two months, a new case of FMD was diagnosed in a pig farm near Yeongcheon-city where now two additional cases have been found.
Continuing circulation
While showing a low apparent morbidity rate (0.75%), these new outbreaks may be indicative of a continuing circulation of the virus in South Korea.
The source of the virus which has infected the two pig farms deserves to be investigated. Surveillance should cover also wildlife, such as wild boars and deer.
Pro-Med Mail is a reporting service by the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID).
Related websites:
• ISID
Although occurring with low swine morbidity rates, two new outbreaks of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) have been confirmed in South Korea in the end of April, Pro-Med Mail reports.
The outbreaks have been found on two farms near Yeongcheon-city in North Gyeongsang province, in the east of South Korea. Of a total of 2,800 susceptible animals, only 21 animals died. One farm has 2,000 pigs (17 infected), the other 800 (four infected).
Setback
The finding of two more cases confirms a setback in South Korea’s approach to control the Foot-and-Mouth outbreak, which started in November 2010 and reached its peak in February 2011, at the expense of the culling of over 2.5 million animals with losses estimated to exceed US$2 million.
In the end of March, having included vaccination in its approach, and encouraged by the fact that no new cases appeared since the end of February, Seoul assumed that the highly contagious disease was largely contained and hence downgraded the alert level ‘red’ to ‘orange’. In mid-April, the alert level was further lowered from ‘orange’ to ‘yellow,’ the second-lowest level in the four-tiered alert system.
Unfortunately, on April 16, after absence of the disease for almost two months, a new case of FMD was diagnosed in a pig farm near Yeongcheon-city where now two additional cases have been found.
Continuing circulation
While showing a low apparent morbidity rate (0.75%), these new outbreaks may be indicative of a continuing circulation of the virus in South Korea.
The source of the virus which has infected the two pig farms deserves to be investigated. Surveillance should cover also wildlife, such as wild boars and deer.
Pro-Med Mail is a reporting service by the International Society for Infectious Diseases (ISID).
Related websites:
• ISID
28 April 2011
Myanmar reports outbreaks of PRRS in Naypyidaw region
//28 Apr 2011
An outbreak of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) was reported in Naypyidaw District in early April, according to the Myanmar Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department.
Independent press agency Mizzima News, ran by Myanmar journalists located in Thailand and India, report that the Naypyidaw District Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department is educating the public about the disease, which causes reproductive failure in breeding stock and respiratory tract illness in pigs.
On April 7, 100 pigs out of a total of more than 300 pigs at two pig farms in Pobba Thiri and Zabu Thiri townships in Naypyidaw were infected with the disease. Ten of them died. Four days later, the pigs were diagnosed with PRRS. Authorities say there is no treatment for the disease and no prophylaxis.
Naypyidaw
There are an estimated 100,000 pigs in the district around the country’s newly built capital city Naypyidaw, according to the Health Department. The new capital, is located 320 km north of the previous capital Rangoon.
Similarly, in March, the disease was reported in Aungmyetharsan, Chanayetharsan, Mahaaungmye, Chanmyatharsi, Pyigyitagun, Amarapura and Madaya in the Mandalay region, where more than 1,000 pigs died of the disease.
Dr Tun Myint Soe, the deputy head of the Amarapura Township Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, told Mizzima that, currently, there is no PRRS in Amarapura.
Amapura
"There is no spreading of PRRS in Amarapura. The spread of PRRS was stopped by the intense heat," he said. A veterinarian in Pyigyitagun Township told Mizzima that the disease is still spreading in small pig farms in some townships, including Myitnge, Sintkai, Myinchan, and Pyinoolwin in Mandalay region.
"At first, the disease was spread among small farms in urban areas," he said. "Later, the weather was colder. Now the new outbreak has occurred in suburban areas. The death rate is high."
Veterinary department
Earlier this month, the Mandalay Division Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department distributed insecticide and disinfectant to large pig farms and small scale domestic pig owners free of charge and provided bio-technology control methods during field trips to inspect farms.
The disease was first reported in February in the Mandalay area.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) earlier issued an emergency warning in Myanmar on the spread of PRRS.
Related website:
• Mizzima News
An outbreak of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) was reported in Naypyidaw District in early April, according to the Myanmar Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department.
Independent press agency Mizzima News, ran by Myanmar journalists located in Thailand and India, report that the Naypyidaw District Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department is educating the public about the disease, which causes reproductive failure in breeding stock and respiratory tract illness in pigs.
On April 7, 100 pigs out of a total of more than 300 pigs at two pig farms in Pobba Thiri and Zabu Thiri townships in Naypyidaw were infected with the disease. Ten of them died. Four days later, the pigs were diagnosed with PRRS. Authorities say there is no treatment for the disease and no prophylaxis.
Naypyidaw
There are an estimated 100,000 pigs in the district around the country’s newly built capital city Naypyidaw, according to the Health Department. The new capital, is located 320 km north of the previous capital Rangoon.
Similarly, in March, the disease was reported in Aungmyetharsan, Chanayetharsan, Mahaaungmye, Chanmyatharsi, Pyigyitagun, Amarapura and Madaya in the Mandalay region, where more than 1,000 pigs died of the disease.
Dr Tun Myint Soe, the deputy head of the Amarapura Township Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department, told Mizzima that, currently, there is no PRRS in Amarapura.
Amapura
"There is no spreading of PRRS in Amarapura. The spread of PRRS was stopped by the intense heat," he said. A veterinarian in Pyigyitagun Township told Mizzima that the disease is still spreading in small pig farms in some townships, including Myitnge, Sintkai, Myinchan, and Pyinoolwin in Mandalay region.
"At first, the disease was spread among small farms in urban areas," he said. "Later, the weather was colder. Now the new outbreak has occurred in suburban areas. The death rate is high."
Veterinary department
Earlier this month, the Mandalay Division Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Department distributed insecticide and disinfectant to large pig farms and small scale domestic pig owners free of charge and provided bio-technology control methods during field trips to inspect farms.
The disease was first reported in February in the Mandalay area.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) earlier issued an emergency warning in Myanmar on the spread of PRRS.
Related website:
• Mizzima News
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