Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Extends Special Avian Influenza and Foot-and-Mouth Disease Quarantine Period by 2 Weeks

Extended until the 28th of this month

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Cha Min-young] The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 13th that the special quarantine period for highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) and foot-and-mouth disease will be extended by two more weeks until the 28th.

Special quarantine measures such as controlling migratory bird habitats and strengthening disinfection, as well as administrative orders and announcements related to AI, will continue to be enforced until the 28th. The preventive culling reduction measures, which have been in effect since the 15th of last month, will also be extended. Restrictions on duck farming, same-day shipment of broilers and meat ducks, and the ban on stocking for more than 14 days will continue to be applied.

For foot-and-mouth disease, risk factors such as insufficient vaccination will be intensively managed during the extended period. Farms vulnerable to vaccination by livestock type will undergo booster vaccinations and antibody testing. Restrictions on the movement of cattle and pigs outside designated zones will be extended until the 28th. Environmental inspections will be conducted this month at entrances, holding pens, and vehicles entering slaughterhouses for cattle, pigs, and goats, where livestock vehicle traffic is heavy.

In preparation for the nationwide simultaneous vaccination of cattle and goats starting on the 1st of next month, proper vaccination guidelines will be promoted in advance to livestock farms, and vaccine inventory and supply status will be checked daily to ensure there are no issues with vaccine distribution on site through special management.

A Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs official stated, "Since the risk from viruses remaining inside and around farms continues to exist, livestock farms and facilities must rigorously implement farm disinfection and comply with quarantine rules," adding, "Cattle, pig, and goat farms should thoroughly check and vaccinate all animals that are easily missed during vaccination, such as pregnant livestock or newly born offspring."

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