Highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) was detected in wild birds captured in Changwon, Gyeongnam Province, prompting the province to implement an ultra-strong quarantine system.
According to Gyeongnam Province, out of 12 wild mallards captured at Jinjeon Stream in Masanhappo-gu, Changwon City on the 6th, two were confirmed to be infected with the H5N6 strain of avian influenza on the 10th.
This is the first confirmed case in Gyeongnam this winter since wild birds were confirmed positive at the Mangyeong River in Jeonbuk on November 28.
A banner notifying access restrictions is hung at Jinjeon Stream in Masanhappo-gu, Changwon City, where highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected. [Photo by Gyeongnam Provincial Government]
Gyeongnam Province deployed an initial response team and blocked access for people and vehicles within a 500-meter radius of the outbreak area.
At the entrance, banners and signs were installed to restrict entry of livestock vehicles and related workers, and disinfection vehicles were mobilized to strengthen disinfection of roads around the detection site and access roads to adjacent poultry farms.
A 10 km radius around the sample collection site was designated as a wild waterfowl surveillance area, and movement restrictions were imposed on all poultry farms within the quarantine zone.
Measures such as installing and repairing nets to block wild bird access were reiterated, and emergency surveillance and inspections were conducted to confirm no clinical symptoms related to avian influenza.
Since mid-September, access control zones for livestock vehicles have been operated at 12 high-risk migratory bird habitats, and from the 1st of this month, an administrative order banning free-range poultry farming was issued.
Kang Gwang-sik, Director of Animal Quarantine Division, said, “This is a serious situation with consecutive confirmations of highly pathogenic avian influenza in the country,” and urged, “Consider the outside of livestock barns as contaminated areas and thoroughly implement disinfection inside and outside barns, control entry of external vehicles and people, ban poultry free-ranging, and enforce measures to prevent wild bird access.”
He also urged, “Poultry farms should check for suspected animals daily and promptly report to quarantine authorities if suspicious symptoms appear.”
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