Although the virus stops dead in its tracks when poultry meat is thoroughly cooked, Koreans have grown to dread anything that smells, looks or tastes like fowl, from quail eggs to fried chicken.

As shoppers steer clear of all things poultry, industry players are taking the heaviest blow. While poultry farmers get compensated by the government whenever domestic fowl is culled, those on the retail end of the distribution chain aren't so fortunate. The Korea Chicken Foodservice Association says the public has the misconception that all chickens and ducks are infected and that is hurting the industry's bottom line.

Yoon Hong-geun, chairman of the association, said, "All Koreans are scared. Now the 40,000 to 50,000 people running chicken restaurants are going bankrupt. More than 100,000 livestock farmers around the country have stopped working."

Though not as severe, beef sales are suffering a fate similar to chicken. As news about Korea reopening its market to U.S. beef spurred concerns of mad cow disease, people have started to just say no to beef regardless of its origin.

A leading nationwide retailer says since Korea agreed to lift the ban, beef sales have fallen off by up to 7 percent.

As news of food-borne diseases sends shivers through communities coast-to-coast, those in industries dependent on the meats are urging the government to get a grip on the panic.

Arirang News