Jungsubon Raises AI Crisis Alert Level to Severe
Nationwide Disinfection Around Migratory Bird Habitats and Poultry Farms
[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] As avian influenza (AI) has occurred at domestic poultry farms for the first time in 2 years and 8 months, the government has significantly strengthened quarantine measures. The AI Central Accident Response Headquarters (CARH), headed by Minister Kim Hyun-soo of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, is conducting preventive culling of 392,000 chickens and ducks at poultry farms within 3 km of the affected farm.
According to CARH on the 29th, highly pathogenic AI (H5N8 type) was confirmed at a meat duck farm located in Jeongeup-si, Jeonbuk Province, the previous day. An H5 antigen was detected in a test conducted before shipping ducks on the 27th, and a detailed examination confirmed highly pathogenic AI of the H5N8 type on November 28.
This is 36 days after the highly pathogenic antigen was first detected in wild birds at the migratory bird habitat Bonggangcheon in Cheonan on October 21, and it is the first occurrence at a domestic poultry farm since the last outbreak in March 2018, 2 years and 8 months ago.
CARH is conducting preventive culling of chickens and ducks at 6 poultry farms (392,000 birds) within 3 km of the affected farm, and has established a quarantine zone with a 10 km radius around the affected farm. Within this zone, movement restrictions (for 30 days) and surveillance and detailed inspections are being conducted at 68 poultry farms housing 2,905,000 birds. All poultry farms and workers in Jeongeup-si, Jeonbuk Province, the affected area, have been restricted from movement and access for 7 days starting from the 28th.
Earlier, upon detection of the H5 antigen in pre-shipment testing at the duck farm, an initial response team was immediately dispatched to the site to control farm access and conduct epidemiological investigations. Preventive culling was carried out on 19,000 ducks at the suspected farm. Additionally, a nationwide 48-hour standstill order was issued starting at 00:00 on the 28th, and all poultry farms and livestock-related facilities nationwide were disinfected. After confirmation, the AI crisis alert level was raised to 'Severe' immediately, and quarantine measures were significantly strengthened. Accordingly, free-range poultry farming is banned nationwide, and the distribution of live chicks (under 70 days old) and ducks is prohibited at traditional markets nationwide.
CARH considers the situation extremely dangerous nationwide as highly pathogenic AI has been confirmed at poultry farms and highly pathogenic AI antigens continue to be detected in wild birds (8 cases in Gyeonggi, Gangwon, Chungnam, and Jeju). They plan to implement additional quarantine responses. While greatly expanding disinfection and quarantine in Jeonbuk Province where the outbreak farm is located, from the 29th, 757 disinfection vehicles will be deployed to thoroughly disinfect small reservoirs, streams, and farm access roads near about 5,700 poultry farms nationwide, separately from existing migratory bird habitats, four times a week. In addition, environmental inspections will be strengthened, farm and facility checks will be conducted, and on-site situation management teams will be dispatched to support field inspections.
Kim Hyun-soo, head of CARH, said, "Since highly pathogenic avian influenza has occurred at poultry farms, farmers and related agencies must work together with full effort to block it early." He urged poultry farm stakeholders to refrain from accessing migratory bird habitats, reservoirs, and farmland where virus contact is possible, and to practice biosecurity measures such as applying slaked lime around farms, changing boots and disinfecting hands when entering poultry houses, and disinfecting inside and outside poultry houses daily. Regarding poultry integration companies, he added, "Integrated poultry farms must conduct four-stage farm disinfection daily, and guidance and inspections should be conducted to prevent access not only to migratory bird habitats but also to small reservoirs, streams, and farmland."
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