Highly Pathogenic AI at Cheonan Farm... "Emergency Preventive Culling Measures"

24-Hour Temporary Movement Restriction Order
Establishing a 10km Quarantine Zone Nearby

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5 subtype; hereinafter referred to as highly pathogenic AI) has occurred at a laying hen farm in Cheonan, prompting quarantine authorities to take emergency quarantine measures.

According to Chungnam Province and Cheonan City on the 7th, the farm where the highly pathogenic AI occurred is raising approximately 239,000 laying hens, and was finally confirmed (H5 subtype) through an inspection by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency the previous day.

Last year, external access was restricted at a laying hen farm where a highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) antigen was detected. Photo by Yonhap News

After confirming the H5 antigen on the 6th, Chungnam Province deployed an initial quarantine team to the affected farm to implement quarantine measures such as access control and epidemiological investigation.

In addition, a temporary movement ban order was issued for 24 hours until 1 p.m. on the 7th for laying hen farms, related livestock facilities, and livestock vehicles within the jurisdiction, and a quarantine zone was established within a 10 km radius around the affected farm.

Within the quarantine zone, detailed inspections are being conducted on 42 poultry farms, and disinfection vehicles have been urgently deployed to strengthen disinfection activities to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic AI.

Chungnam Province plans to complete culling and rendering by the 7th.

This winter, a total of 27 cases of highly pathogenic AI have occurred nationwide, including 18 cases in Jeonbuk, 7 cases in Jeonnam, and 2 cases in Chungnam. In Chungnam, highly pathogenic AI occurred at a laying hen farm in Asan in December last year. The Cheonan laying hen farm is the second case in the region.

Kim Young-jin, head of the Animal Quarantine and Hygiene Division of Chungnam Province, said, “There is a migratory bird habitat near the affected farm, and about 2.21 million chickens are raised within a 10 km radius. Chungnam Province will make every effort to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic AI from the affected farm to nearby areas.”