I haven't been real pleased to hear about the spread of avian flu throughout Korea, and its appearance in Seoul. I keep meaning to post something on it but haven't. One thing I had cut out is going to the market where they slaughter chickens, ducks (and rabbits, dogs, etc) to avoid possible problems. Now those have been closed anyway.

I did like this picture, if only because of the memorialized portraits in the background, endearing isn't it?





INSIDE JoongAng Daily: "The current H5N1 strain of bird flu sweeping the nation is a different variation of the virus from Korea��s two previous outbreaks, a government body announced yesterday. But National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service officials said they need more time to confirm what exactly the difference is.
��We have found that this is a different H5N1 virus than that of 2003 and 2006,�� said Kim Ki-seuk, head of the team researching the virus. ��We don��t yet know if this season��s virus is a mutation. Also, we don��t yet know if it comes from Southeast Asia. We will reveal the final result after the U.S. Centers for Disease Control finish their investigation of the current H5N1 virus sample at the end of this month.��
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sent samples to the U.S. center earlier this month.
Both of Korea��s previous outbreaks of bird flu erupted during the cold of winter, but the current cases broke out during the warmer temperatures of spring, sometimes even during above 25 degree-Celsius (77 F) weather.
��At this time there is a high possibility that the virus comes from Southeast Asia,�� said an unnamed official from the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Meanwhile, about 600 members"

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