The South Korean government on Sunday confirmed a new outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu among live poultry in the capital city of Seoul.

The Agriculture Ministry said over 8,000 ducks and chickens were immediately culled on an illegally-run farm in the southeastern Songpa-gu district after the affected poultries in the farm had been tested positive for the deadly H5N1 strain.

The bird flu has spread throughout the country since the government confirmed an outbreak of the epidemic in southwestern part of the country in early April.

In Seoul, where more than 10 million people live, the government confirmed an outbreak of deadly H5N1 strain in the eastern part of the city on May 5. It was the first time that bird flu has been discovered in the capital city.

The South Korean government recently announced to ban the trade of live chickens and ducks on traditional markets in a bid to prevent further spreading of bird flu.

(Xinhua News Agency May 12, 2008)