The Ministry of Agriculture and Fishery says South Korea will continue to ban
poultry imports from Thailand, Vietnam and China.

The move follows a recent outbreak of the avian influenza in Thailand.

On Wednesday, the Thai government confirmed a fresh outbreak of bird flu two weeks after chickens started dying at a farm in central Thailand. And the Chinese government has also confirmed a new outbreak in a central province.

Earlier this year, the bird flu ravaged Asia's poultry industry and jumped to humans in Vietnam and Thailand, killing 24. About one hundred million chickens across the region were slaughtered to halt its spread.

No case of the bird flu has been reported in South Korea in recent months, but the ministry says it's taking preventive measures.

The last known case of bird flu was reported in Gyeonggi Province in March.