Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Checks Avian Influenza and Foot-and-Mouth Disease Prevention Measures Ahead of Lunar New Year

Executive Team Visits Slaughterhouse and Dense Complex Sites

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 14th that senior officials, including the Vice Minister of the Ministry, will consecutively visit sites to inspect quarantine readiness in preparation for the Lunar New Year holiday to prevent outbreaks of avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease. The inspection targets are key locations requiring focused quarantine management, such as slaughterhouses with high vehicle traffic, densely populated livestock complexes, key disinfection facilities, egg transshipment centers, and migratory bird habitats.

On the day, the Vice Minister will visit Naju, Jeollanam-do (slaughterhouse, key disinfection facility); the Director of the Food Industry Policy Office will visit Anseong, Gyeonggi-do (egg transshipment center) on the 16th; the Director of the Planning and Coordination Office will visit Sejong (dense complexes, key disinfection facilities) on the 17th; and the Deputy Vice Minister will visit Dangjin and Asan, Chungcheongnam-do (slaughterhouse, migratory bird habitats) on the 21st to inspect livestock vehicle control and disinfection status.

The Ministry is paying close attention to the ongoing outbreaks of avian influenza in Europe, Taiwan, China, and other regions, and, anticipating increased human and vehicle movement during the Lunar New Year holiday, has urged thorough blocking quarantine measures such as vehicle control and disinfection. Since the beginning of this year, avian influenza has occurred in six countries worldwide including Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Taiwan, China, and India, while foot-and-mouth disease has been reported in China and South Africa.

The Ministry is currently implementing preventive measures against avian influenza, including banning livestock vehicles from entering migratory bird habitats, strengthening control and disinfection of livestock vehicles entering poultry farms, and enhancing disinfection and inspection of vulnerable farms. In relation to the recent detection of NSP antibodies in Ganghwa County, emergency vaccination is being carried out in Ganghwa County and Gimpo City, and nationwide booster vaccinations are being promoted for animals that missed initial vaccinations.

Especially with the expected increase in overseas travelers during the Lunar New Year holiday, livestock-related personnel are urged to refrain from visiting countries with avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks and to actively cooperate with livestock epidemic prevention measures such as prohibiting illegal importation of portable livestock products. Additionally, local governments nationwide, producer organizations, and related institutions and groups are requested to actively promote and guide avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease prevention measures and blocking quarantine rules, as well as to inspect sites and vigorously implement quarantine measures.

Furthermore, livestock farms are strongly encouraged to thoroughly implement basic quarantine rules such as applying sufficient slaked lime on farm entrances and around barns, changing boots (shoes) for each barn, maintaining quarantine facilities such as nets, fences, and anterooms, and prohibiting visits to migratory bird habitats.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.