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Bird Flu Strain in North Korea Different from Asian Outbreak

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The United Nations expert has reported that the bird flu strain in North Korea is distinct from the one that has claimed dozens of lives in Southeast Asia. This divergent strain has been identified after a visit to North Korea by the UN expert. Meanwhile, the US and Japanese governments have been discussing Japan's Food Safety Commission's proposal to partially lift its domestic requirement for testing cattle for mad-cow disease.

Key Takeaways:

  • The bird flu strain in North Korea has been identified as different from the one that has caused widespread illness and death in Southeast Asia.
  • The US Department of Agriculture Secretary, Mike Johanns, has expressed concern that Japan is not moving quickly enough to lift its ban on US beef.
  • The Food Safety Commission of Japan has proposed lifting its domestic requirement for testing cattle for mad-cow disease, but the US and Japanese governments are seeking public feedback on the proposal.
  • Thailand, Vietnam, and China are likely to be the epicenters of a bird flu pandemic, with Hong Kong, Singapore, and mainland China likely to be the hardest-hit economies.
  • Trading volume on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange reached a record high in March, with 95,007,728 contracts traded.
  • Lower supplies of cattle have led to higher prices for Chicago Mercantile Exchange feeder cattle futures.
  • Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures traders were mixed in their opening calls on Tuesday, with lean hog futures seeing follow-through selling and dueling fundamentals.
  • Bellies are expected to be steady to 30 lower on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange lean hog futures.

Statistics:

  • 95,007,728: The record number of contracts traded on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in March.
  • 31.6%: The increase in trading volume on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in March compared to February.
  • 32.2%: The increase in trading volume on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in March compared to the same period last year.
  • 72,199,263: The trading volume on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in February.
  • 71,847,825: The trading volume on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in March last year.

Sources:

  • Dow Jones Commodities News via Comtex
  • Dow Jones
  • AP
  • Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. (CME)
  • US Department of Agriculture
  • Japanese government officials

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