S. Korea confirms 9 more swine farms affected by new flu

SEOUL, Dec. 16 (Yonhap) -- South Korea confirmed Wednesday pigs at a further nine
swine farms have contracted the type-A influenza virus, indicating that the pace
of contagion among the animals is picking up here.

South Korea has been on high alert since the disease was detected among its
people in May. Health experts do not rule out the possibility that the highly
infectious virus could spread from pigs to humans, but they note that such
chances are very low.
The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that it has
confirmed infections among pigs in nine additional swine-raising farms. This is
in addition to five farms where pigs were reported earlier this week to have
contracted the contagious diseases, the first such case here in South Korea.
The ministry said that infected animals have been quarantined to stem the spread
of the disease but added that it has no plan to slaughter them as symptoms are
not serious and there is little chances that it could spread to humans.
The report comes as the spread of the H1N1 flu virus among people here seems to
be slowing after claiming the lives of more than 100 people over the past four
months.
(END)