S. Korea bans Australian poultry and eggs due to avian influenza outbreak

South Korea's agriculture ministry has banned poultry and egg imports from Australia due to an outbreak of H7N7 avian influenza at a free-range egg farm in the state of Victoria.

The ministry warned locals from visiting livestock farms and bringing animals from the affected region.

The farm in Lethbridge, Victoria, which has over 43,000 birds, had 21,750 cases of avian influenza, according to the website of the World Organisation For Animal Health.

Victoria's Chief Veterinary Officer Graeme Cooke said that a 5-kilometer radius protection zone had been placed around the farm in quarantine.

Agriculture Victoria is prohibiting the movement of birds, related equipment, and products in the region.

Birds on the infected property were also being destroyed.

Victoria's Department of Health and Human Services said the H7N7 virus rarely affects humans unless there is direct and close contact with infected birds.

It can be passed from animal-to-person and person-to-person through direct contact.

Symptoms are similar to common flu, such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, headache, and muscle aches.