Haenam-gun Bans Livestock Vehicle Access at Migratory Bird Habitats Including Gocheonam

Kumhoho, Yeongamho, Gocheonamho 3 Areas, Full Effort on AI Prevention Special Quarantine Management

Haenam County is blocking livestock vehicle access to major winter migratory bird habitats to prevent AI (avian influenza). (Photo by Haenam County)

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Hyun] Haenam-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Myeong Hyun-gwan) announced on the 16th that it will block livestock vehicle access to major winter migratory bird habitats to prevent AI (Avian Influenza).

The migratory bird habitats where livestock vehicle access is prohibited are three areas: Yeongam Lake, Gocheonam, and Geumho Lake. For vehicles entering these areas, guidance is provided to use detour routes and to disinfect through the county's key disinfection facilities.

Control posts have been installed at the entrances of the migratory bird habitats to regulate vehicle access, and 133 signs and banners have been placed near the habitats and along major roads to inform about the access restrictions.

For vehicles entering these areas, the reason for entry is investigated, and if violations of the Livestock Infectious Disease Prevention Act are confirmed, fines will be imposed along with strong administrative measures.

Recently, highly pathogenic AI has been continuously occurring in four countries including Russia and Taiwan, which are migratory routes for birds entering Korea from abroad, raising the possibility of transmission when winter migratory birds move south.

Accordingly, a special quarantine period has been set from October to February next year for five months, during which wide-area spraying aircraft and joint disinfection team vehicles are mobilized to disinfect migratory bird habitats more than twice a week.

Additionally, the key disinfection facilities within the livestock business office are operated 24 hours a day, and a special quarantine countermeasure situation room has been launched to proactively block livestock diseases such as AI, foot-and-mouth disease, and African swine fever.

Disinfectants and wild bird repellents are supplied to poultry farms, lime barrier belts are created around farms and migratory bird habitats, and materials such as immune enhancers are supported. Dedicated officials are also assigned to conduct daily inspections and guide quarantine rules.

A county official stated, “Livestock infectious diseases have recently occurred nationwide, and the possibility of highly pathogenic AI outbreaks is increasing, so we are establishing and implementing quarantine measures early.” He added, “We hope farms strictly follow quarantine rules such as disinfecting livestock barns to keep Haenam free from livestock diseases.”

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