High Pathogenic AI Outbreak in Anseong on the 8th... First in 11 Months Since February Last Year

Avian Influenza Prevention and Control Measures

Gyeonggi Province has launched an all-out effort to contain the spread following the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) at a laying hen farm in Anseong on the 8th. This AI outbreak is the first in about 11 months since the last occurrence at a laying hen farm in Yeoncheon on February 21 of last year.

In response to this AI outbreak, Gyeonggi Province imposed access restrictions on the affected farm and culled 257,000 livestock. Additionally, movement restrictions and thorough inspections are being conducted on 59 poultry farms within a 10km quarantine zone around the affected farm and 34 epidemiologically related sites.

Earlier, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs issued a 24-hour temporary movement suspension order nationwide for laying hen farms, vehicles, and facilities from 10 a.m. on the 11th to 10 a.m. on the 12th. Violating this movement suspension order may result in imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won under the Livestock Infectious Disease Control Act.

Furthermore, Gyeonggi Province is mobilizing all available disinfection vehicles (108 units) to conduct intensive and simultaneous disinfection on roads surrounding farms and near migratory bird habitats, focusing on laying hen farms to preemptively block virus risk factors within poultry farms across the province.

In addition, 473 dedicated quarantine officers from city and county governments are conducting one-on-one mobile surveillance to guide all 1,026 poultry farms in the province on ‘Farm Biosecurity Rules’ and ‘Actions to Take When Suspecting Sick Animals.’

Kim Jong-hoon, Director of Livestock Animal Welfare at Gyeonggi Province, stated, “Currently, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is widely spread outdoors, making disinfection inside and outside farms and prohibiting external vehicles from entering farms absolutely necessary. To prevent further spread, strict adherence to basic biosecurity rules is essential, and anyone showing suspicious symptoms should immediately report to quarantine authorities.”