H1N1 confirmed in South Korean pig herds

24-12-2009 | Home | News

The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) has reported that the pandemic 2009 influenza A (H1N1) has been found in 241 swine in South Korea.

Total counted outbreaks come down to 15; none of the animals died or had to be culled, the report stated. The disease was first confirmed at December 14, 2009, and reported to the OIE nine days later by the Labelling, Quarantine and Inspection Division of the South Korean ministry of food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries (MIFAFF).

The outbreaks were found in the provinces Kyongsang-Bukdo, Kyonggi-Do, Kyongsang-Namdo, Cholla-Namdo and Cheju-do. The number of pigs affected represented 1.02% of the total number of pigs.

Source of infection
The source of the infection is unknown. The ministry added that it monitored pandemic influenza in domestic pigs since May 2009. Following this monitoring, pandemic influenza A/H1N1 virus was isolated from samples collected in 15 pig farms. The pigs in the affected farms were put under movement restrictions for three weeks.

Measures applied came down to movement control inside the country; disinfection of infected premises/ establishment(s); prohibition of vaccination and affected animals were not treated.