Confirmed Case of Highly Pathogenic AI in Jeju... Nationwide Spread 'Emergency'

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 22nd that a highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) of the H5N8 type was confirmed through a detailed examination of wild bird droppings collected on the 17th in Hadori, Jeju. As of the 22nd, a total of six cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza antigens were found at migratory bird habitats (wild birds) in Cheonan (2 cases), Yongin (1), Icheon (2), and Jeju (1).

The Ministry explained that overseas, from November 1 to the 18th, there have been 282 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (based on OIE reports), which is more than nine times the 29 cases reported in October alone. This is a significant increase compared to the approximately 20 cases reported annually during the same period over the past six years.

To prevent highly pathogenic avian influenza, the Ministry is conducting comprehensive inspections of poultry farms and related facilities. First, nationwide full-scale poultry farms (4,280 farms) underwent two rounds of thorough disinfection and quarantine facility inspections (from April to September and from September to October). Any deficiencies found were promptly corrected, and fines were imposed on 29 farms.

For small-scale poultry farms nationwide (raising 1,000 or fewer birds, totaling 65,257 farms), inspections on the installation of disinfection and quarantine facilities have been conducted on 44,574 farms (68%) so far. Improvements have been requested and actively guided for on-site quarantine deficiencies such as lack of fences, absence of protective nets, and missing disinfection equipment.

From August to October, thorough inspections of disinfection and quarantine facilities were conducted at 2,401 poultry farms and facilities vulnerable to infection. Deficiencies such as missing fences and lack of human disinfection facilities were reported to local governments for correction. Vulnerable farms include leased farms, farms combining cultivation and livestock, farms employing foreign workers, farms trading at traditional markets, and breeding duck farms, totaling 1,585 farms.

The Ministry plans to continue inspections of migratory bird habitats, poultry farms, and livestock-related facilities, and will strictly take action if any legal violations are found.

An official from the Ministry stated, "Since highly pathogenic avian influenza antigens are being detected nationwide from wild birds, it should be assumed that areas outside farms are contaminated by default." They added, "Not only farm personnel but also the general public should avoid entering migratory bird habitats." They further urged, "Since many areas experienced rain over the weekend, please reapply slaked lime around farms and thoroughly disinfect both inside and outside the farms."