Gangwon-do Fully Lifts Movement Restrictions in 'Highly Pathogenic AI' Quarantine Areas

Detailed Inspection of Poultry Farms in Areas with Detected Antigens in Farms and Wild Birds Shows 'Negative'

High Pathogenicity AI Outbreak Status Data [Provided by Gangwon Province]

[Asia Economy Reporter La Young-cheol] Gangwon Province announced on the 29th that "As of 00:00 on April 29, environmental inspections of the high pathogenic avian influenza (AI) outbreak farm for laying hens in Wonju and surveillance and detailed inspections of poultry farms within the 10 km quarantine zone around wild bird AI antigen detection areas (Wonju and Cheorwon) all tested negative, so the AI movement restrictions on poultry farms within the province will be lifted."

According to the province, the culling and disposal of contaminated materials following the high pathogenic AI outbreak at the laying hen farm in Wonju (February 23, 2021) were completed, and the farm cleaning and disinfection were deemed appropriate. On the 28th, the Gangwon Provincial Animal Hygiene Laboratory conducted detailed environmental inspections of the livestock facilities and confirmed negative results.

Clinical surveillance and detailed inspections of poultry farms (601 locations) within the 10 km quarantine zone around the wild bird AI antigen detection areas (Wonju and Cheorwon) showed no abnormalities.

So far, to completely block the inflow of poultry into AI outbreak areas, the province has implemented additional measures beyond the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ quarantine actions, including holding three livestock quarantine councils, issuing AI risk warnings for Wonju, Hoengseong, and Cheorwon, and promoting Gangwon Province’s own strengthened special measures against high pathogenic AI.

Despite the nationwide highest detection of high pathogenic AI virus in wild birds (109 cases in farms across 10 cities/provinces including 1 case in Gangwon, and 232 cases nationwide in wild birds including 64 in Gangwon), the outbreak was contained with only one farm case.

Hong Kyung-soo, Director of Animal Quarantine Policy, urged, "Although the AI movement restriction on poultry farms in the province has been lifted, please do not lower your guard until the nationwide outbreak is declared over. We ask for your cooperation in disinfecting farms at least twice a week, thoroughly implementing quarantine measures against outsiders and vehicles, and maintaining constant biosecurity measures."