[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province is strengthening its prevention activities against highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI).
The province announced on the 2nd that the Livestock Quarantine Committee recently decided to ban the import of ducks and duck manure from the Jeonbuk region.
This measure follows the detection of the H5 antigen during a pre-shipment test at a meat duck farm in Jeongeup, Jeonbuk on the 27th of last month, which was confirmed by a detailed test to be the H5N8 highly pathogenic AI.
This is the first occurrence of AI in poultry farms since March 17, 2018, when it was detected at a layer farm in Asan, marking a period of two years and eight months.
Accordingly, the province held an emergency AI prevention measures meeting chaired by Deputy Governor Kim Yong-chan.
To block connections with AI-affected areas, the import of poultry and poultry products (including hatching eggs and manure) from the Jeonbuk region will be prohibited.
The import ban takes effect from the 2nd and applies not only to ducks and duck products but also to chickens shipped within a 10 km radius of AI outbreak areas. Additionally, conditional import will be allowed for cities and counties under Jeonbuk jurisdiction after inspection and issuance of movement permits.
Im Seung-beom, Director of the Animal Quarantine and Hygiene Division of the province, stated, "Cooperation from local residents is very important to prevent the inflow of AI into the province," and urged, "Please refrain from visiting AI outbreak sites and migratory bird habitats."
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