Confirmed 'Highly Pathogenic AI' at Egg-Laying Farm in Cheonbuk-myeon, Gyeongju-si... 200,000 Birds Culled at Huimang Farm

The photo shows officials preparing for culling on the morning of December 17 at a layer hen farm in Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, where the H5 subtype avian influenza (AI) antigen was detected. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Park Dong-wook] The H5 subtype avian influenza (AI) antigen detected at a layer farm in Hope Farm, Cheonbuk-myeon, Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, has been confirmed as highly pathogenic.

According to Gyeongsangbuk-do on the 26th, the AI Central Accident Response Headquarters conducted a detailed examination of samples collected from the farm suspected of highly pathogenic AI, confirming it as H5N8 highly pathogenic AI.

Accordingly, Gyeongju City plans to cull all approximately 208,000 chickens by the 27th, including 8,000 layers at the affected farm, 161,120 chickens at 15 farms within the Hope Farm complex, and 47,000 chickens at one farm within a 3 km radius.

The farm where the highly pathogenic AI virus was detected is located 3.5 km away from the site where highly pathogenic AI antigen (H5N8) was detected in wild birds at the Hyeongsan River on the 2nd. The farm reported to quarantine authorities on the 25th after about 60 chickens suddenly died.

Joo Nak-young, mayor of Gyeongju City, emphasized, "Highly pathogenic AI is a zoonotic infectious disease, so there is much concern when it occurs, but since it is filtered through strict inspections during distribution, you can safely consume chicken and eggs."

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