|
The bird flu outbreak reported in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province on Monday is of a highly pathogenic strain that can be transmitted to humans, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said on Wednesday. The Ministry decided to issue a nationwide ¡°orange¡± alert so far only in effect in the Jeolla provinces. National emergency management guidelines specify four levels of risk alert -- blue, yellow, orange and red, with red being the most serious. Under the orange warning, the ministry and local authorities can ask police and military assistance in isolating and destroying poultry infected with bird flu. When the red warning is issued, all human and material resources can be mobilized to fight off avian influenza at a national level.
Since the first outbreak of bird flu was reported in the city of Gimje, North Jeolla Province, the number of highly pathogenic bird flu has risen to 21 as of Wednesday. However, quarantine authorities stress that the bird flu virus is killed when exposed to temperatures over 75 degrees in Celsius for more than five minutes. Poultry consumption is therefore unlikely to pose a health threat to humans.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
|
