24.03.2014

South Korea reported cases of avian influenza (AI) in dogs, further confirming the spread of the avian influenza H5N8 to different species.

The ministry said antibodies to AI have been detected in 11 dogs at two separate farms in Cheonan, 80 kilometers south of Seoul, and Buyeo, located 195 kilometers south of the capital. The first case of a dog being infected with the virus was reported March 11 at a different farm in Cheonan.
Since the first outbreak of AI at a duck farm on Jan. 16, South Korea has culled over 11 million birds, mostly chickens and ducks. The government has so far tested samples from 28 pig and dog farms to confirm their infection.
No human infection of the new H5N8 strain that is currently spreading in South Korea has been reported.