Report of Suspected Highly Pathogenic AI at a Laying Hen Farm in Namyangju

[Image source=Yonhap News] Poultry culling site

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] A suspected case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) has occurred at a laying hen farm in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province.

The Central Avian Influenza Countermeasures Headquarters (CAC) announced on the 11th that after receiving a report of chicken deaths suspected to be caused by AI from a laying hen farm in Namyangju, tests conducted by quarantine authorities detected the H5 antigen.

The farm is raising 38,000 laying hens. Since the 9th, chickens have been dying, and as the number increased to 150 by the morning of the 11th, the farm reported it to the quarantine authorities.

Upon detection of the H5 antigen, the CAC restricted access to the farm and conducted an epidemiological investigation. Proactive quarantine measures such as movement restrictions, surveillance, and testing are being implemented for farms within a 10 km radius.

Namyangju City decided on the 12th to cull all chickens at this farm. Detailed tests are currently underway, and confirmation of high pathogenicity is expected by the afternoon of the 12th.

If confirmed as highly pathogenic, preventive culling will also be carried out for 10,000 chickens at one farm located within a 3 km radius from this farm.

A CAC official emphasized, "All farm owners nationwide must strictly follow quarantine rules such as disinfecting vehicles, people, and equipment, and changing boots, and immediately report to quarantine authorities if any abnormalities are detected in their poultry."

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