[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyunjung] The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for Avian Influenza announced on the 1st that a suspected case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) was reported at a layer farm located in Sangju-si, Gyeongbuk Province.
The farm is raising approximately 188,000 layers, and within a 500m radius there is one poultry farm with 87,000 birds; within 500m to 3km, there are six farms with 418,000 birds; and within 3 to 10km, there are 25 farms with 1,549,000 birds.
At the farm, suspicious symptoms such as increased mortality (300 birds per day), decreased laying rate, and reduced feed intake were observed. A rapid test kit was conducted by the Gyeongbuk Animal Hygiene Laboratory, confirming AI positivity, and a detailed examination is currently underway. The results of the detailed examination and confirmation of high pathogenicity are expected within 1 to 3 days.
Immediately after confirming the rapid test kit positive, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters dispatched an initial response team to the site to implement emergency quarantine measures including access control to the farm, preventive culling, and epidemiological investigation. They also plan to issue a temporary movement standstill order for poultry farms, livestock facilities, and livestock vehicles.
The Headquarters plans to implement strengthened quarantine measures such as preventive culling within a 3km radius of the affected farm if highly pathogenic avian influenza is confirmed.
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