Is This the First High Pathogenicity AI Outbreak This Year in Gimhae, Gyeongnam?

Preventive Culling of 204,000 Chickens

Initial response teams have been deployed to a farm in Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam, where the H5 antigen of avian influenza was detected, to control access. [Image source=Gyeongnam Provincial Government]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Lee Seryeong] On the 1st, an avian influenza (AI) antigen was detected at a laying hen farm in Hallim-myeon, Gimhae-si, Gyeongnam Province, putting the province on high alert.

According to Gyeongnam Province on the 2nd, after receiving a report of deaths at the farm, the Animal Hygiene Testing Laboratory examined the carcasses and detected the H5 type AI antigen.

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency is currently conducting a final detailed test to determine whether it is highly pathogenic, and the results are expected to be announced within 1 to 3 days.

If confirmed, this will be the first case of highly pathogenic AI occurrence in 2023.

Upon confirmation of infected animals, the province immediately deployed an initial quarantine team to the affected farm to control movement, and imposed movement restrictions and enhanced surveillance on approximately 530,000 poultry across 586 farms within a 10 km quarantine zone.

To prevent further spread, as an emergency quarantine measure, 204,000 chickens raised at the affected farm and nearby farms were culled.

A 24-hour temporary movement standstill order was issued from 9 p.m. on the 1st for laying hen farms and related businesses in the Gyeongnam area.

Kang Kwangsik, Director of Animal Quarantine Division, stated, “In a situation where livestock infectious diseases occur every year, maintaining a stable livestock industry requires farm owners’ thorough awareness of biosecurity and strict adherence to quarantine protocols.” He added, “Please ensure thorough disinfection of all visitors, vehicles, and equipment entering the farm, and report promptly if suspicious symptoms such as increased mortality or decreased egg production are observed.”