South Korean Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has said that the nation has culled nearly 20 million birds – or more than 12% – of its poultry to prevent the spread of avian flu, The Korea Times reported citing Yonhap News Agency. A report by the Korea Economic Research Institute predicted that the country’s financial loss could total 492 billion South Korean won after 10% of the poultry population has been slaughtered.