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South Korea Confirms 34th Bird Flu Case, Imports US Eggs Amid Outbreak

South Korea has confirmed its 34th case of highly pathogenic avian influenza this season at a duck farm in Naju. Authorities have imposed movement restrictions and begun culling birds to contain the outbreak, which has now spread to over 20 cities and counties. To address potential supply shortages and stabilize prices, South Korea will import 2.24 million fresh eggs from the United States this month. Despite the culling of more than 4.32 million laying hens, officials state the country's egg supply remains stable for now.

Key Points: South Korea Bird Flu Cases Hit 34, US Egg Imports Begin

  • New case at Naju duck farm
  • Over 4.3 million hens culled this season
  • US egg imports to stabilize prices
  • Virus spread across 20+ regions
  • Intensive inspections planned
2 min read

South Korea reports new bird flu case at poultry farm, total now at 34

South Korea reports new avian flu case, bringing total to 34. Authorities cull birds and import US eggs to stabilize supply and prices.

"The virus has now spread to more than 20 cities and counties, raising concerns about further infections."

Seoul, Jan 9

South Korea has confirmed an additional case of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a poultry farm, bringing the total number of cases this season to 34, officials said Friday.

The latest case was found at a duck farm in Naju, about 285 kilometers south of Seoul, where some 27,000 ducks are raised, according to the Central Disaster Management Headquarters, Yonhap News Agency reported.

Authorities have restricted access to the farm, begun culling the birds, and are investigating the case.

The virus has now spread to more than 20 cities and counties, raising concerns about further infections.

To detect cases at an early stage, authorities plan to conduct intensive inspections of breeder duck farms and hatcheries across the nation, officials said.

On Wednesday, South Korea's agriculture ministry said that South Korea will import 2.24 million fresh eggs from the United States this month to help stabilize domestic egg prices amid the recent spread of highly contagious avian influenza (AI).

The eggs will be purchased by the Korea Agro-Fisheries and Food Trade Corp., and distributed to supermarkets and food ingredient suppliers here, according to South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

It will mark the first time in two years for South Korea to purchase US-produced eggs. Seoul last imported US eggs in January 2024, a ministry official said.

The move is part of a preemptive measure against a potential egg supply shortage, as the country has been coping with the spread of highly contagious bird flu in recent months.

Since the start of the cold season, more than 4.32 million laying hens have been culled at farms affected by AI, according to the ministry.

The ministry said the country's egg supply currently remains stable, with the number of laying hens growing 1.2 per cent from a year earlier as of end-2025, though its daily egg production dropped 1.1 per cent to 49 million over the cited period.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Importing eggs from the US is a smart move to stabilize prices. We saw what happened in India when egg prices skyrocketed due to supply issues. Proactive measures are key. Hope our authorities are also monitoring our poultry health closely.
A
Aman W
Culling over 4 million hens is heartbreaking for the farmers 😔. The economic loss must be devastating. The article mentions the number of hens actually grew slightly, which is surprising. Shows how resilient the industry can be, but at what cost?
S
Sarah B
While the containment steps seem standard, I have a respectful criticism. The article says it's spread to over 20 cities. Shouldn't there be more focus on *how* it's spreading so widely between farms? Are migratory birds the main vector? Transparency in the investigation is crucial for public trust.
V
Vikram M
This is a reminder for us in India too. Our poultry density is very high in certain states. We need to learn from other countries' experiences and maybe stockpile emergency supplies or have import agreements ready as a backup plan. Jai Kisan.
K
Kavya N
49 million eggs a day is still a huge number! But a 1.1% drop in production can ripple through the economy. It affects everything from street food vendors to large bakeries. Hope the imported eggs help bridge the gap without hurting local farmers too much.

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