A fourth outbreak of the H5N1 bird flu virus was confirmed by the South Korean government, after rumors that circulated in the past few days.

It seemed that after the isolation efforts and the million plus of poultry slaughtered, the problem had finally been handled. Unfortunately, the H5N1 outbreak was confirmed at a farm in Yeoungam, about 235 miles southwest of Seoul.

All the commotion started earlier this month when the first case of H5N1 in more than a year was reported.

Ryu Chul-hyuk, an official of the South Jeolla provincial government was quoted by the Associated Press saying that quarantine workers have slaughtered 470,000 chickens and ducks at 20 farms within a 1.8 mile radius of the site of the latest outbreak, bringing this month’s total close to 1,3 million.

Other measures taken include shipment stand-by for millions of birds in the affected areas and also the destruction of eggs.

Previously, such problems were reported across South Korea between November 2006 and March 2007, when poultry farms were also isolated and the crisis resolved with over 2,8 million birds killed in the process.

After last year’s experience, the government was prepared and the area’s isolation was very well timed.

According to the World Health Organization, there had been 238 human deaths across the world related to the H5N1 strain and 376 confirmed cases of infection since 2003.