Naju-si, Gongsan Duck Farm AI Antigen Detected... Farm Vehicle Control

Published 22 Nov.2022 14:25(KST)

[Naju=Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Yukbong] On the 22nd, Yoon Byung-tae, mayor of Naju, Jeollanam-do, held an emergency countermeasure meeting in the morning regarding the detection of the ‘H5 type avian influenza (AI)’ antigen at a meat duck farm in Gongsan-myeon, emphasizing thorough quarantine management.

Through the emergency meeting, Mayor Yoon requested thorough measures to prevent additional infections in nearby farms in preparation for the confirmation of highly pathogenic AI at the farm in question, including enhanced surveillance and quarantine, focused disinfection around reservoirs where migratory birds arrive, and control of vehicles at epidemiological target farms.

The city reported that the H5 type AI antigen was detected and notified at 7 a.m. on the day from samples collected during the third stage of breeding inspection conducted at the farm on the 21st.

The farm currently raises 79,800 meat ducks in 15 barns, has no previous history of AI outbreaks, and had tested negative in the comprehensive poultry farm inspection on the 1st and the second stage breeding inspection on the 14th.

Whether the AI is highly pathogenic or low pathogenic will be determined through detailed testing within 3 to 5 days.

Due to the detection of the AI antigen, vehicle and personnel access to the farm has been restricted since 7 a.m. on the day, and a temporary movement suspension order for 36 hours was issued for poultry farms in Jeollanam-do starting at 11 a.m.

From 1 p.m., culling personnel were deployed to carry out preventive culling of all 79,800 ducks across the 15 barns.

No additional culling was conducted as there are no poultry farms within a 500m to 1km radius of the affected farm.

There are nine poultry farms (936,000 birds) within a 1 to 3 km radius and 30 farms (1,409,000 birds) within 3 to 10 km, so the city is making every effort to manage quarantine.

The city installed control posts at the affected farm and conducted emergency disinfection within a 3 km radius.

Mayor Yoon Byung-tae said, “Please devote all efforts to blocking additional infections through surveillance, disinfection, and control of vehicle and personnel access to farms within 10 km where the AI antigen was detected,” adding, “We also ask for thorough preventive measures against secondary infections caused by culling personnel, including comprehensive disinfection of reservoirs near farms where migratory birds arrive.”