Outbreak of Highly Pathogenic AI H5 in Gimhae... Emergency Culling of Over 172,000 Birds

Movement Restrictions and Disinfection of Livestock Pens, Surveillance of All Poultry Farms in the Province

Gyeongnam Provincial Government Office.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] On the 7th, a suspected case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5 antigen detected) occurred at a layer chicken farm located in Hallim-myeon, Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam Province.

Gyeongnam Province immediately deployed an initial quarantine team to the affected farm upon confirmation of the outbreak, restricting movement to and from the farm and disinfecting both the interior and exterior of the poultry houses as well as nearby roads.

Approximately 172,000 poultry within 500 meters of the affected farm will be culled within 24 hours by a specialized company.

Movement restrictions have been imposed on 632 poultry farms raising about 519,000 birds within a 10 km quarantine zone, and clinical surveillance and detailed inspections of poultry are underway.

All available personnel will be mobilized to disinfect farms daily and to check for the application of slaked lime around farms and disinfection inside the farms.

A provincial official stated, “This is the second case in the province since the outbreak in Hadong-gun on February 21,” adding, “We will actively recommend the purchase and culling of small-scale poultry farms.”

To block the spread of avian influenza, movement control posts have been set up in border areas near the outbreak, and farms epidemiologically linked to the suspected case farm are immediately restricted from movement and placed under surveillance.

Enhanced quarantine measures are being implemented within the quarantine zone, and dedicated disinfection vehicles are deployed up to 3 km within the protection zone until the quarantine is lifted.

Daily intensive disinfection is conducted on access roads to poultry farms, nearby small streams, roads around reservoirs, and migratory bird habitats, which are vulnerable areas.

Veterinary officials are assigned to layer farms located 3 to 10 km within the surveillance area to monitor daily mortality rates and changes in egg production.

The final confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza will be made by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, with results expected around April 9.

Kim Gukheon, Director of Animal Quarantine Division, said, “We will thoroughly inspect all poultry farms in the province to prevent further spread of highly pathogenic AI and respond with full force,” and added, “We hope individual farms will also adhere to quarantine guidelines.”

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