[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 31st that it has designated 10 migratory bird habitats surrounding the locations where highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) antigens were recently detected as ‘AI Special Management Areas’ and is managing them under special control.
The migratory bird habitats designated as AI Special Management Areas include Cheongmicheon, Anseongcheon, and Jinwicheon in Gyeonggi Province; Bonggangcheon, Byeongcheoncheon, Pungseocheon, and Gokgyocheon in Chungnam Province; and Musimcheon, Bogangcheon, and Mihocheon in Chungbuk Province. Since the 29th, the Ministry has been conducting disinfection and quarantine inspections on 398 poultry farms located within these AI Special Management Areas.
They are inspecting the installation of blocking devices, vehicle disinfection facilities, fences, the status of quicklime belt construction, and disinfection conditions inside and outside the farms. Farms found lacking will be promptly required to improve, and strict accountability will be enforced if related laws are violated.
Since October 28, the Ministry has been controlling the entry of people and vehicles into the 10 migratory bird habitats within the ‘AI Special Management Areas,’ and local governments have assigned officers to check entry control daily.
Additionally, all available disinfection resources are being mobilized to conduct intensive disinfection of areas where highly pathogenic avian influenza has occurred, nationwide migratory bird habitats, and nearby poultry farms.
From the 28th to the 29th, a total of 756 disinfection vehicles (cumulative) were deployed to intensively disinfect 103 migratory bird habitats nationwide and 1,534 nearby farms. Furthermore, 64 disinfection vehicles (cumulative) were mobilized to disinfect farm entrances and roads within 11 densely populated layer hen farming complexes, covering 212 poultry farms.
Meanwhile, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for African Swine Fever announced that although there have been no additional outbreaks since the last occurrence of African Swine Fever in farmed pigs and the maximum incubation period has passed, the situation remains uncertain.
The headquarters explained that African Swine Fever continues to occur persistently in wild boars in northern Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces, and since these areas are extensively contaminated with the virus, continuous disinfection and farm quarantine measures will be maintained.
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