Naju-si, United Efforts to Maintain Avian Influenza-Free Zone

Jeonnam Naju City is putting all its efforts into maintaining a bird flu (AI) clean zone.

According to the city on the 2nd, while 31 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) occurred nationwide during the last winter season, the city has maintained a 'zero (0) occurrence' record.

Drone disinfection at Gongsan-myeon poultry farm.
[Photo by Naju City]

The city is the largest poultry production area in Jeonnam, capable of raising 11,395,000 poultry.

Despite the challenging environment for influenza prevention, accounting for 25% of the nation's duck production, the city has operated a 24-hour quarantine system including a Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters and a Situation Room, maintaining 'Clean Naju' for 11 months.

Specifically, the city has restricted raising at 55 high-risk farms and regularly disinfects farm entrances, access roads, migratory bird habitats, and dense laying hen areas.

Additionally, for farm self-quarantine, the city distributes disinfectants, quicklime, and bird repellents, promotes awareness via SNS and KakaoTalk, assigns 105 dedicated public officials to farms, and conducts three-step inspections for farms restocking poultry.

The city urged minimizing the entry of people and vehicles into poultry farms, changing into dedicated boots when entering barns, intensive disinfection on 'Barn Environment and Disinfection Day' (every Wednesday), and compliance with quarantine rules such as cleaning, disinfecting, and facility inspections before restocking livestock.

A city official said, "With the peak farming season coinciding with the northward migration of wild birds, sporadic outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza are a concern. Since autonomous quarantine measures by farms are crucial in blocking disaster-type diseases like AI, we ask that thorough barn disinfection be maintained at all times."

Naju = Kim Yukbong, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr