S. Korea confirms new case of avian influenza

South Korea on Friday confirmed a case of avian influenza, just three weeks after it declared the de facto termination of an earlier outbreak.

The new outbreak was confirmed at a duck farm in the southwestern city of Yeongam, 330 kilometers from Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

"The reported case at the duck farm in Yeongam has tested positive for a highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza," the ministry said.

Ministry officials said whether the latest case marked a fresh outbreak was not clear.

"For now, the government believes the latest case has been caused by the virus that spread earlier this year, though the exact cause will have to be determined by an investigation," an official said, asking not to be identified.

The farm that raises some 11,000 ducks had reported a suspected case on Wednesday, 23 days after the government removed most of the restrictions, including a lockdown, on all farms affected by avian influenza since the first case was reported on Jan. 16.

All ducks at the affected farm have been culled, putting the total number of animals slaughtered due to avian influenza since January at over 14 million. (Yonhap)