Jeong Hwang-geun Inspects High Pathogenicity AI Quarantine Sites... Expansion of Preventive Culling

Urgent Inspection of Quarantine Status Across Jeonnam Area
Decision to Expand Preventive Culling Scope

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] Jeong Hwang-geun, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, urgently inspected the quarantine situation on the 11th by visiting Jeonnam, an area with a high risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreaks. The Central Accident Response Headquarters for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (CARHPAI) decided to expand the scope of preventive culling in some cities and counties of Jeonnam.

On the day, Minister Jeong visited the base disinfection facility in Naju City and ordered thorough disinfection not only of livestock vehicles and drivers but also of the access roads to and from the base disinfection facility to prevent and block HPAI.

Since the first confirmation of HPAI at a meat duck farm in Jangheung, Jeonnam on the 16th of last month, 19 cases of HPAI have been concentrated in Jeonnam, including 6 cases in Naju.

Minister Jeong emphasized, "The three key pillars of quarantine are rapid precise testing, joint public-private disinfection, and compliance with quarantine rules by farm owners," and urged related ministries, including the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, to take measures to ensure local governments pay more attention to quarantine.

CARHPAI, after assessing the risk of HPAI, decided to expand the preventive culling scope in the Muan and Hampyeong areas of Jeonnam to include "all poultry species within 500m and additional culling of ducks within 500m to 2km in case of occurrence." Other areas will maintain the previous scope. The adjusted scope will be applied for two weeks from the day of the announcement until December 24.

However, CARHPAI plans to promptly adjust the preventive culling scope through the Central Livestock Quarantine Committee depending on the outbreak pattern, such as additional spread, even before the culling application period. CARHPAI stated, "The key to blocking horizontal transmission lies in farm-level compliance with quarantine rules," and urged, "Strengthen farm-level blocking quarantine and immediately supplement any insufficient quarantine measures."

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