Egg Prices Set to Rise... Avian Influenza in Europe Increased 44-Fold in the First Half of the Year

Occurrence in Wild Birds in Europe and Asia... Various Virus Types
Authorities "Prevention is Crucial, Inadequate Facilities to be Improved by This Month"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The number of avian influenza (AI) cases detected in wild birds in Europe during the first half of the year surged to about 44 times that of last year. The types of viruses have also diversified. As the virus is expected to enter South Korea following migratory birds in winter, raising the possibility of egg prices increasing in the worst-case scenario, livestock quarantine authorities have decided to improve insufficient facilities by the end of this month.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 2nd, the number of AI cases in wild birds in Europe during the first half of the year was 1,139, which is 43.8 times the 26 cases recorded in the first half of last year. In Asia, 44 cases were reported in seven countries including China, which is 3.1 times last year’s figure. In April, highly pathogenic AI was also detected in wild birds in Liaoning Province, China.

Previously, it was revealed that the AI virus types most prevalent in Europe during the first half of 2017 and 2020 were similar to the AI viruses that occurred domestically during the winter of those years. Between 2016 and 2017, AI viruses that were prevalent in Guangdong Province, China, also entered South Korea following migratory bird routes.

The types of AI viruses have also diversified. While only the H5N8 type appeared in Europe last year, this year H5N8 was detected along with H5N1, H5N5, H5N4, H5N3, and H7N7. In Asia, four types of AI?H5N6, H5N8, H5N1, and H5N5?were reported. In South Korea, during 2016?2017 when H5N8 and H5N6 types occurred simultaneously, large-scale infections lasted for eight months.

Recently, the H5N8 virus detected domestically and abroad has shown characteristics of taking relatively longer to cause death and ducks showing no symptoms even when infected. The H5N1, H5N5, and H5N6 viruses occurring in Europe and China tend to have high mortality rates in chickens and spread easily to other chickens.

In response to the increasing risk of AI, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs plans to improve vulnerable factors and systems before the special quarantine period for poultry farms begins next month. In addition to on-site inspections of quarantine facilities at poultry farms nationwide, which have been conducted since June, consulting to improve quarantine weaknesses will also be carried out. Farms with deficiencies will be subject to additional inspections and required to make improvements before the special quarantine period; failure to comply may result in restrictions on farming.

To institutionalize preventive measures and implement field-centered quarantine, opinions from experts, producer organizations, and various sectors will be gathered to revise related regulations and manuals. If AI occurs in domestic wild birds during winter, a 'severe' crisis alert will be issued immediately, and in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment, intensive disinfection and access control will be enforced in affected areas.

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs emphasized, "Since various types of highly pathogenic AI can be introduced from Europe and Asia, prevention is paramount. Poultry farm operators should thoroughly inspect disinfection and quarantine facilities such as vehicle and personnel disinfection stations, wild bird exclusion nets, and quarantine rooms by October and preemptively improve any insufficient facilities."

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