Chungnam Fully Lifts Avian Influenza Quarantine Zone... Biosecurity Measures Continue

[Asia Economy (Hongseong) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] Chungnam Province is fully lifting the high pathogenic avian influenza (AI) quarantine zone. It has been 47 days since the first AI outbreak in the region.

The province announced on the 19th that it will completely lift the movement restrictions imposed on local poultry farms and facilities as of midnight on the 20th.

The movement restrictions were imposed on poultry farms and facilities within a 10 km radius of the AI outbreak farms.

However, since 30 days have passed after the culling and other measures at the last AI outbreak farm, no additional AI cases have occurred. Furthermore, all 516 poultry farms included in the quarantine zone tested negative for AI, leading the province to lift the movement restrictions as well.

However, regarding the high pathogenic AI detected in wild birds at Gokgyocheon in Asan on the 13th, the province plans to designate poultry farms within a 10 km radius as surveillance areas and continue intensive management.

Additionally, even after lifting the quarantine zone, the province will assign dedicated officers to poultry farms for monitoring and maintain enhanced quarantine measures such as installing control posts at major livestock types including large-scale layer farms, and around migratory bird habitats, small streams, nearby roads, and adjacent poultry farms.

Meanwhile, in Chungnam, starting from a layer farm in Pungse-myeon, Cheonan City in December last year, a total of three cases of high pathogenic AI occurred in two cities including Eumbong-myeon, Asan, resulting in the culling of 719,000 poultry across 14 farms.

Shin Yong-wook, head of the Animal Quarantine and Hygiene Division of the province, said, “January and February are periods when migratory birds are abundant, so it is still too early to lower the possibility of AI outbreaks,” adding, “The province plans to strengthen control and disinfection centered on vulnerable areas such as migratory bird habitats until the end of March when migratory birds head north.”