"High Pathogenicity AI Human Infection, Rare but Caution Advised"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cho Hyun-ui] The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on the 1st that it will strengthen measures to prevent human infection following the upgrade of the crisis level to 'severe' due to the outbreak of H5N8 highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) at a poultry farm in Jeongeup-si, Jeonbuk.

AI is a virus that infects wild birds and poultry such as chickens and ducks, and generally does not infect humans. There have been no human infection cases domestically. However, sporadic cases have occurred in humans.

The KDCA dispatched an on-site response team on the 28th of last month, when AI was confirmed, to implement human infection prevention measures at the farms where culling was carried out. The team provided antiviral drugs and personal protective equipment to high-risk groups including farm workers, culling participants, and response personnel, supported seasonal influenza vaccination (for those not yet vaccinated), and conducted personal hygiene education as part of the Jeongeup-si AI human infection countermeasure team activities.

They urged that if symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, or cough occur within 10 days after participating in culling-related work, individuals should immediately report to the public health center, and guided local medical institutions to actively monitor and report suspected AI human infection cases.

Since October, following the outbreak of highly pathogenic AI in wild birds, the KDCA has established the 'Central AI Human Infection Countermeasure Headquarters' and operates a 24-hour work system through the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

They maintain a 'hotline' with related agencies such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the National Wildlife Disease Control Center, and requested local governments to check the stock of antiviral drugs and personal protective equipment and to request additional supplies if necessary.

To enable immediate testing of suspected AI human infection cases, all public health and environment research institutes and disease response centers nationwide have been prepared. They also urged local governments and medical institutions to maintain treatment systems so that confirmed patients can be admitted to nationally designated inpatient treatment beds. As of last month, 198 negative pressure isolation beds are in operation at 29 medical institutions nationwide.

To prevent AI human infection, the general public should refrain from visiting livestock farms or migratory bird habitats and thoroughly practice personal hygiene such as washing hands for more than 30 seconds. High-risk groups, including workers at AI-affected farms and participants in culling operations, should wear personal protective equipment and pay close attention to personal hygiene. They should also receive seasonal influenza vaccination and take antiviral drugs during the prescribed period (7 days from the last exposure). If fever, cough, or sore throat occurs within 10 days after participation in work, they should immediately report to the public health center or call 1339.

Jeong Eun-kyung, Commissioner of the KDCA, said about H5N8 AI, "The general public has a very low possibility of human infection due to low contact with wild birds or AI-affected farms, but sporadic human infections are possible among high-risk groups who have direct contact with AI poultry." She added, "We will do our best to prevent AI human infection in close cooperation with livestock quarantine authorities and local governments."

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