Concerns Over Winter Outbreak of 'Joryu Influenza'... Chungnam Strengthens Preemptive Quarantine Measures

Migratory birds visiting the Han River in Seoul are busily flapping their wings. The photo is unrelated to the article. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy (Naepo) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province is proactively strengthening quarantine activities in preparation for the outbreak of avian influenza (AI) this winter.

According to the province on the 28th, 21 reports of AI outbreaks have recently been received from four countries in Asia and Europe. This is a 40% increase compared to last year, and the province judges that there is a high possibility of AI spreading domestically during the winter season when migratory birds begin to move south in earnest.

Accordingly, the province plans to supplement deficiencies in quarantine facilities by next month through on-site inspections of all commercial-scale poultry farms within the jurisdiction.

In addition, to strengthen the responsibility of farms for quarantine, activities to disseminate and guide the newly established and strengthened fine standards under the "Livestock Infectious Disease Prevention Act" will be carried out simultaneously on-site.

Previously, the Livestock Infectious Disease Prevention Act did not provide grounds for imposing fines even if disinfection and quarantine facilities within poultry farms were broken (damaged) or left unattended.

However, since the enactment and strengthening of related regulations, a fine of 5 million KRW can be imposed from the first discovery of such deficiencies.

In particular, farms that violate the prior notification of chicken or duck stocking must pay a fine of 5 million KRW (increased from the previous 1 million KRW) even for a first offense.

A provincial official emphasized, “Poultry farmers must strictly maintain personal hygiene and pay special attention to farm-level quarantine to prevent avian influenza and other diseases.”

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