South Korea reported nearly 30 cases of the highly pathogenic avian influenza at local poultry farms over the past month since it confirmed its first such case in two years and eight months.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on Sunday, the nation has so far confirmed 28 highly pathogenic AI cases as of Saturday, since it reported the first such case in 32 months at a duck farm in Jeongeup, North Jeolla Province on November 26.

As of Friday, more than nine-point-three million ducks and chickens were culled at 163 farms over the past month.

The massive culling and the government's standstill order are pushing up the prices of poultry and eggs, with the production prices of ducks per kilogram soaring over 45 percent from a month earlier.

The production and retail prices of eggs also increased by seven-point-six percent and two-point-five percent on-month, respectively.