Thoroughly Prevent Avian Influenza and African Swine Fever

Goseong-gun Implements Special Quarantine Measures to Prevent Spread

Goseong-gun, Gyeongnam Province, is implementing special quarantine measures to prevent the spread of avian influenza and African swine fever.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Song Jong-gu] Goseong-gun, Gyeongnam Province, is implementing special quarantine measures to prevent the spread of avian influenza (AI) and African swine fever (ASF), which can be introduced by wild animals during winter.

This year, 19 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza have occurred in poultry farms across six cities and provinces including Gyeonggi and Chungbuk, and 42 cases in wild birds. AI has also appeared in poultry farms in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk, where it had never occurred before, showing a nationwide spread.

Although there have been no AI outbreaks in poultry farms within Gyeongnam Province yet, six cases (4 in Gimhae, 1 in Changwon, 1 in Changnyeong) have been detected in wild bird carcasses, all confirmed as highly pathogenic.

ASF had mainly occurred sporadically in spring and autumn in Gyeonggi and Gangwon provinces due to wild boars and increased farming activities, but recently it has been detected in wild boars in Mungyeong, Gyeongbuk, showing a continuous southward trend.

Accordingly, during the special quarantine period, the county will establish and operate a livestock quarantine situation room at all times, and to block the transmission of AI that can be introduced by migratory wild birds moving to survive the winter, access of poultry-related livestock vehicles near Goseongcheon, a migratory bird habitat, will be restricted.

Additionally, an administrative order banning free-range poultry farming is being enforced, and focused quarantine is being conducted around Goseongcheon using wide-area sprayers and joint disinfection teams.

Furthermore, to block ASF through wild boars, support is being provided to install enhanced quarantine facilities such as external fences and quarantine rooms at each farm, with installation expected to be completed by the end of November.

To block ASF introduced not only from within the area but also from other regions, control posts will be operated in pig-dense farming complexes.

Choi Kyung-rak, head of the Livestock Division, said, “Since avian influenza and African swine fever are sporadically occurring nationwide, we are implementing special quarantine measures keeping open the possibility that these diseases could enter our county at any time,” and added, “Poultry and pig farmers are urged to comply with basic quarantine rules such as disinfecting barns and controlling vehicles entering farms.”