SUNDAY, April 13, (News Locale) - A potential outbreak of the deadly H5N1 bird flu was confirmed by South Korean authorities in Muan, South Jeolla province. This is the fourth outbreak of avian influenza in the country and had led to the slaughter of over half a million poultry. 

This year South Korea has reported the resurfacing of bird flu after similar outbreaks in 2003-2004 and between November 2006 and March 2007. H5N1 bird flu virus was also being tested in six other outbreaks, Agriculture Ministry officials confirmed.

Avian influenza or bird flu is caused by a subtype of the H5N1 virus and affects domestic poultry as well as wild birds. The virus first made its appearance in Hong Kong in 1997 and resurfaced in Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, South Korea, Thailand, and Vietnam in late 2003 and early 2004 according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. By late 2004 the infection was said to be under control.

But last year was a watershed in terms of human fatalities. Indonesia was the worst affected country with over 60 documented human deaths followed by Vietnam. One real fear is that if the H5N1 virus mutates to an easily transmissible from between humans, a horrific flu pandemic will result and claim millions of lives, according to scientists.

Bird flu has emerged as one of potentially lethal conditions to affect mankind in the 21st century. The condition caused by the deadly H5N1 virus has so far claimed over 239 lives globally out of 379 confirmed cases since 2003, according to World Health Organization data.

Experts fear if the H5N1 virus mutates to a form that is easily transmissible between humans, it could trigger a worldwide pandemic and claim millions of lives, as there is no treatment against it.

Infection in humans typically stars as fever, cough, sore throat, and muscle aches progressing to eye infections (conjunctivitis), pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, viral pneumonia, and other severe and life-threatening complications, according to the CDC.

The CDC has the following tips to protect consumers from avian infection and other poultry infections:
    * Wash your hands with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds before and after handling raw poultry and eggs.
    * Clean cutting boards and other utensils with soap and hot water to keep raw poultry from contaminating other foods.
    * Use a food thermometer to make sure you cook poultry to a temperature of at least 165 degrees Fahrenheit Consumers may wish to cook poultry to a higher temperature for personal preference.
    * Cook eggs until whites and yolks are firm.

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