South Korea reports first bird flu outbreak since 2008

Two poultry farms, one in the central city of Cheonan and the other in the southwestern city of Iksan, were confirmed to have been contaminated by the H5N1 virus, the agricultural ministry said.

It marked the first time since April 2008 that the country has been hit by avian influenza, it said.

"All the 10,700 ducks at the farm in Cheonan and 17,000 breeding chickens at the farm in Iksan have already been culled and buried, together with 92,000 chickens raised at nearby farms," the ministry said in a press statement.

Both farms have been placed under quarantine, with movements of vehicles and people restricted.

It comes after Seoul confirmed three cases of the virulent H5N1 bird flu strain from wild migratory birds that arrived in the country for the winter earlier in December.

Health authorities have stepped up inspections of wild birds and urged poultry businesses to take extra precautions such as erecting nets around their farms to keep out wild birds.

Yoo Man-Keun, a senior official in Cheonan City, said migrant birds were suspected of having transported the virus.