High Pathogenic Avian Influenza Confirmed at Kimje Pekin Duck and Yesan Laying Hen Farms

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (AI) announced on the 31st that highly pathogenic AI was confirmed at a breeding duck farm in Gimje, Jeonbuk, and a laying hen farm in Yesan, Chungnam.

The breeding duck farm in Gimje is raising 8,000 breeding ducks. Within a 1 km radius of the farm, 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 suspected cases, the initial response team was immediately deployed to the site to implement preemptive quarantine measures including access control to the farms, preventive culling, and epidemiological investigations.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters stated, "During the Lunar New Year holiday period, increased movement of vehicles and people facilitates the spread and transmission of the virus, raising concerns about a surge in livestock infectious diseases if disinfection and quarantine measures are neglected." They urged poultry farmers to strictly adhere to quarantine rules and biosecurity measures, including four-step farm disinfection with double disinfection of incoming vehicles (fixed + high-pressure spraying), and closure of secondary entrances and side doors of barns in farms without disinfection and quarantine facilities, even during the holiday period.

Additionally, they requested close monitoring of suspicious symptoms such as increased mortality, decreased laying rate, reduced feed intake, and lowered activity in poultry, and to immediately report any abnormalities to the quarantine authorities.

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