H5N1 type avian influenza, which is prevalent worldwide, is detected for the first time in Korea this year.

[Anchor]
H5N1 type avian influenza, which is prevalent worldwide, was detected in wild birds in Korea for the first time this year.

The quarantine authorities began to strengthen observation and control the movement of captive poultry to prevent it from spreading to poultry farms.

Reporter Kim Joo-young reports.

[Reporter]
H5N1 type highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in a river in Yongin, Gyeonggi-do.

Viruses have been identified in wild birds captured by quarantine authorities in accordance with the forecast plan.

H5N1 is a form of avian influenza that is prevalent worldwide, and this is the first time it has been found in Korea this year.

It can be transmitted between birds, of course, to mammals, especially humans.

Although it has not yet been confirmed that it has spread from person to person, there is a concern that the "fatality rate", which is the probability of death once infected, exceeds 50%.

[Lee Jae-gap / Professor of Infectious Diseases at Gangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University: Many cases of mass outbreaks have been found here and there in many mammals. They say that if mutations start to occur in a form that can spread to others, it will be the beginning of the next pandemic.]

As a result, the quarantine authorities are also on alert.

The 10km near the detection point was set as a wild tide forecast area and the movement of poultry raised in the area was controlled.

In addition, people and vehicles will not be allowed to enter migratory birds near the discovery site, and quarantine on nearby poultry farms will be strengthened.

We also plan to conduct a survey on 150 migratory birds across the country to examine the situation of additional infections.

The quarantine authorities asked poultry farms to strictly follow the blocking quarantine rules and report them immediately even if only minor symptoms are confirmed.

I'm Kim Joo-young of YTN.

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video;Jeon Joo-young