Chungbuk Jincheon Wild Bird Collection AI Antigen, Low Pathogenicity Confirmed

After Sampling on the 15th, Detailed Inspection... Enhanced Disinfection Measures for 7 Days

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Ministry of Environment announced on the 16th that a detailed examination of wild bird droppings collected from Mihocheon in Jincheon, Chungbuk confirmed the presence of low pathogenic avian influenza (AI).

Earlier, on the 15th, the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency conducted an interim test and detected the H5N3 type AI antigen in wild bird droppings collected from Mihocheon.

Upon detection of the AI antigen, the government immediately implemented measures according to the AI Emergency Action Guidelines (SOP), including restricting access to the wild bird droppings collection site, designating a 10km radius area as a wild waterfowl surveillance zone, conducting surveillance and inspections of poultry farms within the area, and carrying out disinfection and other biosecurity measures at migratory bird habitats and nearby poultry farms.

Even in cases where low pathogenic AI is confirmed, enhanced disinfection measures will be maintained for seven days from the date of detection in the affected area to strengthen biosecurity.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs urged all poultry farms nationwide to thoroughly maintain biosecurity facilities such as wild bird exclusion nets and anterooms to prevent AI outbreaks, strictly control people and vehicles entering farms, disinfect inside and outside livestock barns and farm access roads, change boots for each barn, and strictly adhere to biosecurity rules including prohibiting visits to migratory bird habitats and reservoirs.

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs emphasized, "This year, there has been a rapid increase in highly pathogenic AI outbreaks in Europe and Asia, with diverse virus types, raising the possibility of domestic introduction through winter migratory birds, making preventive measures crucial. Poultry farm operators should thoroughly inspect disinfection facilities, wild bird exclusion nets, and biosecurity facilities such as quarantine rooms and anterooms before October, when migratory birds begin to arrive in earnest, and address any deficiencies in advance."