24-Hour Temporary Movement Suspension Order in Northern Gyeonggi, Simultaneous Disinfection of Poultry Farms and Livestock Facilities
Emergency Quarantine Measures Including Culling of Infected Poultry Farms and Movement Restrictions in Affected and Adjacent Areas
[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] As highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) has occurred at laying hen farms in Gimpo City and Yeoncheon County, Gyeonggi Province, the province has launched an all-out effort to prevent its spread. This is the first occurrence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) in Gyeonggi Province this year.
Since the morning of the 3rd, the province has begun emergency culling of poultry at the affected farms. The farm in Gimpo City is raising 80,000 laying hens, and the farm in Yeoncheon County is raising 93,000.
At the affected farms, control posts have been set up to restrict vehicle and personnel access, and quarantine measures such as rapid disposal of infected livestock carcasses have been implemented.
Within a 10 km radius of the affected farms, movement restrictions have been imposed on 68 poultry farms (Gimpo: 32 farms with 2.01 million birds, Yeoncheon: 36 farms with 1.334 million birds), and clinical surveillance, telephone monitoring, and detailed inspections are being conducted.
In addition, from 11 p.m. on the 2nd to 11 p.m. on the 3rd, a 24-hour temporary movement suspension order was issued for laying hen farms, related facilities, and livestock vehicles in northern Gyeonggi areas including Yeoncheon, Gimpo, and Pocheon. Violations of this order are punishable by up to one year imprisonment or a fine of up to 10 million won.
The province has designated the period until the 20th as an intensive disinfection period to prevent AI spread, mobilizing 202 disinfection equipment units including wide-area sprayers to conduct quarantine disinfection focusing on poultry farms, livestock facilities and vehicles, farm surroundings, and nearby migratory bird habitats.
Furthermore, 36 key disinfection facilities and 56 control posts at vulnerable laying hen farms are being operated, duck farming restrictions are in place, detailed inspections of poultry farms and livestock facilities are ongoing, and continuous surveillance is conducted in special management areas (six cities/counties including Pocheon and Anseong) to strengthen quarantine measures.
As of the 3rd, since last October, there have been a total of 59 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) in domestic poultry farms during the winter season. Including the recent occurrences in Gimpo and Yeoncheon, 9 cases have been reported in 7 cities/counties. Among wild birds, out of 106 cases nationwide, 19 have occurred in Gyeonggi Province.
On the afternoon of the 3rd, Oh Hu-seok, Deputy Governor for Administration of Gyeonggi Province, visited the AI-affected farm in Yeoncheon County to inspect the quarantine situation and discuss additional measures with relevant officials.
Deputy Governor Oh stated, "The detection of avian influenza (AI) virus in the wild is increasing, raising concerns about disease spread," and urged, "Please mobilize all available administrative resources to prevent additional outbreaks of avian influenza (AI) at poultry farms and make every effort to contain it."
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