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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 25, 2009
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S. Korea Culls 3M Birds in Flu Fight

Nation on alert as troops sent in to slaughter poultry

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(Newser) – South Korea has sent in soldiers to kill and bury birds as bird flu spreads rapidly throughout the country, Reuters reports. More than 3 million farm birds have been culled so far, but fresh cases continue to be reported and the disease is heading for the capital. The entire country has been put on its second-highest alert level, although no human infections have yet been reported.

The government is coming under heavy criticism for failing to halt the outbreak. Ministers say they will step up the scale of the slaughtering and investigate why the deadly virus has been spreading so fast since the first cases were reported just two weeks ago. A poultry dealer is being investigated for taking hundreds of ducks from an infected farm and selling them around the country.

South Korean health officials in protective suits transport a sack containing chickens to be buried at a chicken farm where the bird flu virus was found in Yeongam, South Korea, April 10, 2008
South Korean health officials in protective suits transport a sack containing chickens to be buried at a chicken farm where the bird flu virus was found in Yeongam, South Korea, April 10, 2008   (AP Photo)
Health officials in protective suites spray disinfectant on vehicles near a farm where the bird flu virus was found in Jeongeup, South Korea, Monday, April 7, 2008.
Health officials in protective suites spray disinfectant on vehicles near a farm where the bird flu virus was found in Jeongeup, South Korea, Monday, April 7, 2008.   (AP Photo)
Health officials wearing protective suits put ducks into sacks to bury them at a poultry farm where the bird flu virus was found in Muan, South Korea, Tuesday, April 8, 2008.
Health officials wearing protective suits put ducks into sacks to bury them at a poultry farm where the bird flu virus was found in Muan, South Korea, Tuesday, April 8, 2008.   (AP Photo)
South Korean cooks prepare chicken soup to serve during a campaign for the consumption of poultry, which has been affected due to concerns of bird flu, in Seoul, South Korea, April 17, 2008.
South Korean cooks prepare chicken soup to serve during a campaign for the consumption of poultry, which has been affected due to concerns of bird flu, in Seoul, South Korea, April 17, 2008.   (AP Photo)
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