S. Korea reports Avian Influenza case

Forty-five chickens died in a poultry farm in South Chungcheong Province and an initial test with symptoms showed positive results, said the South Korean government on Monday. "A more thorough test is underway, with the results expected to be released later," an official of the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said. The avian influenza (AI) case was reported in South Korea in nearly 10 months. Although the further test will determine whether the virus is the H5 or H7 types, with highly-pathogenic strains, the ministry ordered epidemic prevention and restricted passage in the area, said the ministry official.