Gyeonggi-do Lifts Special Avian Influenza Quarantine Measures on April 1

Gyeonggi Province will lift the special quarantine measures for highly pathogenic avian influenza on April 1.

Gyeonggi Province will switch to a normal prevention system for avian influenza (AI) starting from the 1st of next month.

The province has designated the period from October, when the risk of highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks is high, to February of the following year as the "Avian Influenza Special Prevention Period" and has been implementing strengthened quarantine measures. This year, due to the delayed northward migration of migratory birds and the continued occurrence of avian influenza until the end of February, the period was extended by one month until March.

Before the end of this special prevention period, from the 20th to the 28th of this month, the province conducted detailed inspections of all types of poultry farms, including 563 poultry farms and 43 facilities such as traditional market holding areas, to check for the presence of residual viruses in poultry and the environment, all of which tested negative.

With the end of this special prevention period, the avian influenza crisis alert level has been downgraded from "Severe" to "Caution."

Accordingly, all prohibitions related to livestock vehicles for eggs, feed, and manure, workers, visitors to livestock facilities, traditional market vendors, and traders, as well as mandatory quarantine rules imposed on poultry farms, will be lifted.

However, the regular inspection cycle for avian influenza in all types of poultry will be adjusted according to the "Caution" level rather than the normal system.

Kim Jong-hoon, head of the Animal Quarantine and Hygiene Division of the province, stated, "Although the special prevention period ends in April, neighboring Japan still experiences outbreaks in poultry farms, and highly pathogenic avian influenza occurs year-round in the US and Europe, showing signs of becoming endemic. Therefore, we cannot be complacent. Even during normal times, please maintain a level of quarantine awareness comparable to the special prevention period and pay close attention to farm biosecurity."

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