Chungnam Makes All-Out Efforts to Prevent the Spread of Avian Influenza

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province is launching an all-out effort to prevent the spread of avian influenza in the region.

According to the province on the 29th, a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak occurred on the 26th at a laying hen farm located in Yesan-gun. This is the third case this winter season.

In particular, the number of winter migratory birds that moved to Chungnam this month reached approximately 530,000, an increase of about 11% from around 480,000 last month, causing concern among quarantine authorities.

The number of viruses detected in wild birds nationwide as of this month is 94 cases across 13 cities and provinces, which is analyzed to be 5.5 times higher in viral contamination compared to the previous year.

Accordingly, the province has mobilized 52 disinfection vehicles owned by city/gun offices and livestock cooperatives’ joint quarantine teams to strengthen quarantine management in high-risk areas such as around migratory bird habitats, roads near avian influenza outbreak areas, and dense laying hen complexes.

Additionally, the intensive disinfection period has been extended by one month until January 20 of next year. Special inspections will continue to be carried out focusing on farms vulnerable to quarantine, such as laying hens and ducks near high-risk rivers, in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

Earlier, since October, the province has installed control posts at the entrances of farms with high-risk species such as dense laying hen complexes, large-scale laying hen farms, and breeding duck farms, which are significantly affected by highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks, and has been conducting additional disinfection.

For laying hen farms near high-risk rivers, detailed inspections have been strengthened from once every two weeks to once a week.

Shin Yong-wook, head of the Animal Quarantine and Hygiene Division of the province, said, “Considering that January and February next year, when migratory birds move northward, are the highest risk periods for the spread of avian influenza, we plan to implement strengthened blocking quarantine measures.” He added, “We ask poultry farms to strictly follow basic quarantine rules such as ‘changing boots when entering the barn,’ ‘sealing gaps in the barn,’ and ‘two-step disinfection of incoming vehicles.’”

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