All poultry in Seoul killed due to bird flu outbreak

South Korea has culled all poultry in the country's capital Seoul after a new outbreak of bird flu in the city.

The latest emergence of the disease brings the total number of outbreaks in the country to 31 and the disease is currently spreading at its fastest rate since it was first reported in 2003.

Quarantine officials have destroyed 15,000 chickens, ducks, pheasants and turkeys in Seoul, according to Associated Press.

Government officials have yet to confirm that the latest outbreak was the deadly H5N1 form of the virus and tests are currently underway to determine the levels of danger to the public.

Scientists are concerned that the disease could mutate into a form which can be transmitted between humans, however infections to date can be traced back to contact with infected birds.

Earlier this month, Reuters reported that a South Korean soldier, who was feared to have contracted the virus after taking part in the culling of five million birds, did not catch the virus from the infected poultry.

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