The Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention found the 22-year-old corporal to be infected with an H5 strain of the deadly avian influenza virus on Sunday, when he suffered high fever, a symptom of bird flu, according to the JoongAng Daily. He will remain under quarantine until further laboratory tests confirm whether or not the virus is the deadly H5N1 strain.
On Friday and Saturday, the soldier took part in the killing of chickens and ducks in Jeolla region, where an outbreak of the H5N1 strain of bird flu started on April 1.
Meanwhile, South Korean military officials Tuesday ordered the withdrawal of soldiers from the poultry slaughter sites. No reason was given and it was not clear if the culling had been completed.
