AI Antigen Detected in Wild Bird Droppings in Cheonan-si, Chungnam

It is expected to take about 5 days to determine the high pathogenicity status.

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 23rd that the H5 type avian influenza (AI) antigen was detected for the first time in the 2020 winter season from wild bird droppings collected on the 21st in Bonggangcheon, Cheonan-si, Chungnam. It is expected to take about five days to determine whether it is highly pathogenic.

The ministry explained, "Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been continuously occurring in neighboring countries and overseas recently, and the detection of the antigen at the time when migratory birds are arriving in full force is recognized as a very serious situation."

The ministry is implementing strengthened quarantine measures immediately according to the Avian Influenza Standard Operating Procedure (AI SOP) following the detection of the avian influenza antigen in wild birds. To prevent highly pathogenic avian influenza, since September, quarantine management has been significantly strengthened at 103 migratory bird habitats.

The restricted access zones for livestock vehicles around migratory bird habitats have been expanded by 82% compared to the previous year (from 193 km to 353 km), and surrounding roads are disinfected daily (once a week from September, daily from October) using wide-area sprayers, local government disinfection vehicles, and military decontamination vehicles.

At poultry farm entrances, a quicklime belt has been established, and disinfection and quarantine facilities installed at farms are continuously inspected with any deficiencies immediately corrected. With the detection of avian influenza antigen in wild birds for the first time this winter season, the ministry urged livestock-related personnel, including poultry farm workers, to strictly adhere to quarantine rules to prevent avian influenza.

Along with maintaining quarantine facilities such as fences and nets at poultry farms, it was reiterated to thoroughly comply with basic quarantine rules such as applying enough disinfectant quicklime around farm entrances and poultry houses to ankle depth, prohibiting entry to migratory bird habitats, controlling access of outsiders and vehicles, washing and disinfecting hands when entering poultry houses, and wearing dedicated boots for each poultry house.

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