Suspicion of AI in Laying Hen Farms in Yesan and Breeding Duck Farms in Gimje

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for Avian Influenza (AI) announced on the 30th that suspected cases of highly pathogenic AI have occurred at a breeding duck farm in Gimje, Jeonbuk, and a laying hen farm in Yesan, Chungnam.

The determination of whether the virus is highly pathogenic is expected within 1 to 3 days. The breeding duck farm in Gimje is raising 8,000 breeding ducks, and within a 1 km radius, poultry farms are raising 157,000 birds.

The laying hen farm in Yesan is raising approximately 720,000 chickens, and there are no other poultry farms within a 500 m radius.

Upon confirmation of the suspected cases, the quarantine authorities immediately deployed an initial response team to implement preemptive quarantine measures such as controlling farm access, preventive culling, and epidemiological investigations.

An official from the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters stated, "Since highly pathogenic AI has recently occurred consecutively in poultry farms and wild birds, all efforts must be made by farms and related organizations to block its spread," adding, "Poultry farms should not lower their guard even during the Lunar New Year holiday period and must comply with quarantine rules such as the four-stage disinfection of farms."

Farms are urged to closely monitor for suspicious symptoms such as increased mortality, decreased egg production, reduced feed intake, and lowered activity, and to immediately report any abnormalities to the quarantine authorities.

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