Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed or Suspected Nationwide... Quarantine Authorities on High Alert

Suspicious Livestock at Yeoju Quail Farm Raising 100,000 Birds
Detected in Wild Birds from Osan, Hampyeong, Gyeongju, and Others

On the 8th, preventive culling is being carried out at a duck farm near a layer farm in Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do, where a highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) case was confirmed on the 7th.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] A suspected case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) has been detected at a quail farm located in Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi Province.

The Central Avian Influenza Countermeasures Headquarters announced on the 8th that a rapid test confirmed positive for highly pathogenic AI symptoms at this farm, which raises about 110,000 quails.

This farm is located within 10 km of a layer hen farm where highly pathogenic AI was confirmed on the 6th. During telephone surveillance of farms in the area, the headquarters identified related symptoms such as increased mortality and decreased feed intake.

The headquarters dispatched an initial response team to the site to enforce access control, conduct preventive culling, and carry out epidemiological investigations at the farm. They are also imposing movement restrictions and conducting surveillance and detailed inspections on farms within a 10 km radius.

If a confirmed diagnosis of highly pathogenic AI is made, enhanced quarantine measures, including preventive culling, will be implemented on farms within a 3 km radius of the outbreak farm.

Meanwhile, highly pathogenic AI was also detected in wild birds captured in Osan-si, where there had been no previous outbreaks of livestock infectious diseases. Osan City reported that H5N5 type highly pathogenic AI was detected in wild birds caught in the Hwanggujicheon stream and has been conducting disinfection operations since the 3rd of this month.

The wild birds were captured near the back gate of Hanshin University dormitory by the Hwanggujicheon stream. Osan City has restricted poultry movement within a 10 km radius of the capture site for two weeks and is disinfecting the Hwanggujicheon area, poultry farms, and surrounding roads daily.

Additionally, highly pathogenic AI was detected in wild birds in Nonsongcheon, Nonsan-si, Chungnam Province; Gomagwoncheon, Hampyeong-gun, Jeonnam Province; and Hyeongsangang River, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongbuk Province. These antigen detection areas and surrounding migratory bird habitats have been designated as special AI management zones, where entry of people and vehicles is prohibited within a 500 m radius, and movement restrictions are imposed on poultry farms within a 10 km radius.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs emphasized, "This is a very dangerous situation with highly pathogenic avian influenza antigens continuously detected in wild birds nationwide," urging poultry farmers to remain vigilant against contamination through various routes and to strictly enforce biosecurity measures such as changing boots per barn, banning free-range farming, and establishing hydrated lime belts."

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