After a period of six months without recording avian influenza, veterinary officials in South Korea reported a case of highly pathogenic avian influenza on Wednesday, October 19th.  The case occurred in a flock of ducks in the county of Yecheon.

Consistent with WOAH recommendations, the flock of close to 10,000 ducks was depopulated and a cordon was established around the index farm with appropriate quarantine and intra-zonal surveillance. 

In 2021, South Korea recorded more than 8,000 cases resulting in the need to depopulate approximately 20 percent of the nation’s laying hens.  This resulted in the need to import both shell eggs and liquid and dried egg products to satisfy domestic demand and to constrain prices.