Gwangju City Strengthens Quarantine to Prevent Livestock Epidemics During Seol Holiday

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Yoon Jamin] Gwangju Metropolitan City is making every effort to prevent livestock infectious diseases during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Gwangju City (Mayor Kang Gijeong) announced on the 16th that it will strengthen quarantine measures to prevent the introduction of disaster-type livestock infectious diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) and African swine fever (ASF).

A 24-hour quarantine situation room will be operated during the Lunar New Year holiday, and on the 19th, 20th, and 25th, which are before and after the holiday, seven livestock quarantine vehicles will be mobilized to simultaneously disinfect livestock farms, slaughterhouses, and other livestock facilities.

At major tollgates (Gwangju, Donggwangju, Bukgwangju, Donggwangsan) and village entrances, banners reading "Please refrain from visiting livestock farms for returning visitors" will be posted.

In addition, through livestock quarantine officers, public veterinarians, and dedicated officers for pig and poultry farms, the city plans to promote livestock infectious disease prevention guidelines to livestock farms using text messages, social networking services (SNS), and promotional materials.

In particular, regarding the prevention of highly pathogenic avian influenza, traditional market poultry sales businesses will be closed simultaneously on the 18th and 25th, and from the 25th to the 27th after the holiday, a thorough AI inspection will be conducted on poultry farms.

Meanwhile, highly pathogenic avian influenza has occurred in 36 cities and counties across 10 cities and provinces since it first appeared domestically on October 17 last year. African swine fever first occurred in domestic pig farms in September 2019, and this year it also occurred at a pig farm in Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do in January.

Nam Taeksong, head of the Life Agriculture Division of the city, said, "We thank the livestock farmers and quarantine officials who cooperated with the quarantine to maintain a livestock infectious disease-free area," and added, "As we celebrate the Lunar New Year, we ask livestock farms to thoroughly disinfect and returning visitors to refrain from visiting livestock farms to prevent the spread of livestock infectious diseases."