South Korea reports new case of avian influenza at duck farm

By Anadolu staff

South Korea on Wednesday reported another case of highly pathogenic avian influenza, taking the total number of cases this year to 12, according to local media.

The new case was confirmed at a duck farm in the Buan County in North Jeolla Province, Yonhap news agency reported.

The farm is located within a 10-km (6.2-mile) radius of another farm where a case was reported last week.

On Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) reassured that the risk of human infection from H5N1 avian influenza remains low for the general public despite 76 cases reported globally in 2024.

However, there is a heightened risk for farm workers and others exposed to infected animals, warned Maria Van Kerkhove, the acting director for epidemic and pandemic threat management at WHO, speaking at a UN briefing in Geneva.

Cases were also reported in Australia, Canada, China, Cambodia, and Vietnam.

*Writing by Islamuddin Sajid