Korea confirms avian influenza case in wild bird

A bean goose discovered in central Seoul has tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza, city officials said Wednesday. The Seoul metropolitan government said the wild bird, which was found sick recently in the Seodaemun district and later died, was confirmed to be infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza. This marks the first detection of the virus strain in wild birds within Seoul in nearly three years, following the last reported case in January 2023. According to officials, the bird had been rescued on Thursday following a citizen report and was receiving treatment at a wildlife rescue center when it developed neurological symptoms and died. Subsequent tests by the National Institute of Wildlife Disease Control and Prevention detected the H5 antigen in the bird's carcass on Saturday with final confirmation of the virus on Tuesday. In response, authorities have intensified disinfection measures and expanded monitoring of wild bird habitats in and around the area where the infected goose was found, the city said.Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times