The case of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) strain of H5N1 was detected at the duck farm in Goheung, a southern coastal town, some 470 kilometers south of the nation’s capital, Seoul.

The new case brought to 22 the total number of AI cases that have been reported at local poultry farms since this autumn.

The highly pathogenic influenza A virus subtype H5N1 is an emerging avian influenza virus that is causing global concern as a potential pandemic threat.

H5N1 has killed millions of poultry in a growing number of countries throughout Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Between November 2020 and January 2021, about 21.7 million birds were killed preventively in South Korea. (ILKHA)