Gyeonggi-do Conducts Simultaneous Avian Influenza Testing at 65 Animal Shelters

High Pathogenic Avian Influenza Prevention Disinfection

Gyeonggi Province will conduct a comprehensive test for highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) on animal shelters until the 8th.

This comprehensive test is a follow-up measure after highly pathogenic avian influenza cases were consecutively reported at two private cat protection facilities in Seoul on the 25th and 29th of last month.

The subjects of the test are animals in 65 animal shelters in the province, specifically 'dead animals,' 'animals admitted after June 1st,' and 'animals showing suspected influenza symptoms.'

When highly pathogenic avian influenza occurred at an animal shelter in Seoul on the 25th of last month, Gyeonggi Province immediately informed 65 animal shelters in the province and implemented quarantine measures such as access control and disinfection at five related animal hospitals and animal cremation companies in the province. Then, on the 26th and 27th of the same month, emergency clinical surveillance was conducted on about 8,000 animals in the province's animal shelters, and detailed inspections were carried out at three Gyeonggi Province-operated protection facilities.

Kim Jong-hoon, Director of the Livestock Animal Welfare Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, urged, "Since dogs and cats, which are susceptible to avian influenza, are at risk of spreading the infection, residents are requested to follow human infection prevention guidelines such as washing hands after contact with animals and avoiding contact with wild bird carcasses."

Meanwhile, besides the two cases of cats in Seoul this time, there was also a case in 2016 where two cats in Pocheon City were infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza.

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