Bird Flu Reappears in South Korea, Ivory Coast

H5N1, the virulent form of avian influenza or bird flu, is resurgent again in South Korea and the Ivory Coast. The last time bird flu appeared in South Korea was in 2003. The Ivory Coast had been clear of the bird flu since April of this year. Most likely H5N1 was brought to South Korea by migratory birds. To deal with the outbreak, South Korea plans to kill over 230,000 chickens within a 500-meter radius of the initial outbreak site. What's worrisome is the possibility of bird flu becoming endemic in North Korea where the infrastructure is not equipped to handle a large outbreak there.