Avian Influenza Antigen Detected in Sejong Bugang Area... Emergency Temporary Movement Suspension Order Issued

[Asia Economy (Sejong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] An avian influenza (hereinafter AI) virus was detected in Sejong, prompting quarantine authorities to take emergency measures.

According to Sejong City on the 24th, an AI virus antigen was detected at a laying hen farm located in Bugang-myeon, Sejong, the previous day.

In response to the detection of the AI virus antigen in the area, the city quarantine authorities issued an emergency order for a temporary movement ban across the entire city.

According to the emergency order, from midnight on the 24th to midnight on the 25th, all access and movement of livestock, livestock industry workers, vehicles, and goods related to all poultry farms and related facilities in Sejong are completely prohibited.

However, farms that are short of feed or need to ship eggs may move under restrictions after obtaining an approval certificate.

The farm where the AI virus antigen was detected is located 8 km away from a laying hen farm in Yeondong-myeon where highly pathogenic AI occurred on the 16th. A farm official noticed an unusual sharp increase in chicken deaths and reported a suspected AI case, leading to testing.

After receiving the report, the city conducted a detailed inspection of the farm and detected the H5 type AI antigen. However, whether it is highly pathogenic with high mortality and transmissibility will be determined in 1 to 3 days.

Along with the temporary movement ban order, the city has also imposed movement restrictions on approximately 240,000 poultry raised at nine poultry farms within a 10 km radius of the farm where the AI antigen was detected.

Additionally, in preparation for confirmation of highly pathogenic AI, the city plans to preemptively cull about 288,000 poultry within a 500 m radius, including approximately 61,200 birds raised at the affected farm.

Yoon Chang-hee, head of the Animal Hygiene and Quarantine Division of the city, said, “The temporary movement ban order is a necessary measure to prevent additional outbreaks of highly pathogenic AI in poultry farms within the jurisdiction,” and added, “To maximize quarantine effectiveness, livestock-related workers are requested to thoroughly disinfect and clean during the movement ban period.”