Stop AI Spread! ... Antigens Detected in Gyeongnam Haeban, Hapcheoncheon, and Upo Wetland

H5N1-type AI was confirmed in a wild bird carcass found in Haebancheon, Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam, and access around the detection site has been restricted.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] A state of emergency has been declared in Gyeongnam Province due to the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI).

Gyeongsangnam-do announced that H5N1-type AI was finally confirmed on the 18th from the carcasses of wild birds, including a whooper swan and a common pochard, found recently in Haebancheon, Gimhae City.

The province stated that it is focusing on quarantine management to prevent the virus from entering poultry farms.

According to the province, this confirmation is the third detection case in wild birds following the confirmed cases from a wild bird captured in Sacheoncheon, Gimhae on October 19 and wild bird droppings from Bonggok Reservoir, Changwon on October 27.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza antigen (H5 type) was also detected in wild bird droppings collected from Hapcheoncheon, Hapcheon on November 15, and in wild bird carcasses found at Upo Wetland, Changnyeong on November 17 and Haebancheon, Gimhae on November 18, with detailed tests underway to determine pathogenicity.

A provincial official explained, “This year, highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed in a wider area and earlier than last year, increasing the risk of a nationwide large-scale outbreak.”

The province immediately deployed initial response teams to the three areas where avian influenza antigen (H5 type) was detected, blocking access to people and vehicles within a 500m radius centered on the antigen detection sites.

At the entrances, banners and signboards were installed to restrict access of livestock vehicles and related personnel, and disinfection vehicles were mobilized to strengthen disinfection of roads around the detection sites and entrances to nearby poultry farms.

A 10 km radius around the sample collection points was designated as a wild waterfowl surveillance area according to avian influenza quarantine guidelines.

All poultry farms within the quarantine zone were reminded again of quarantine measures such as movement restrictions and installation and repair of nets to block wild bird access, and emergency surveillance and inspections confirmed no clinical symptoms related to avian influenza.

To prevent large-scale damage, the province plans to focus quarantine efforts on strengthening management of densely populated layer hen complexes and large-scale farms, establishing special management plans for cities and counties with high risk of occurrence, including disinfection and inspections.

On the 25th, Gyeongnam Province, city and county quarantine officers, and producer organizations plan to conduct a non-face-to-face virtual quarantine training (CPX) together.

Kim Gukheon, Director of Animal Quarantine Division, emphasized, “Recently, many violations of basic quarantine rules have been confirmed at AI outbreak farms in other provinces,” adding, “If AI occurs due to violations of basic quarantine standards such as delayed reporting, failure to disinfect, or not changing farm-exclusive work clothes, compensation for culling may be reduced by up to 100%.”

He continued, “Even in high-risk situations, strengthening biosecurity at farms can prevent outbreaks,” and said, “It is essential that farm owners take responsibility by directly controlling access of outsiders and vehicles, and thoroughly disinfecting even after authorized entry, with the mindset that ‘I protect my farm and our poultry industry.’”

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