H5 Avian Influenza Antigen Confirmed at Seosan Meat Duck Farm...Emergency Quarantine Measures Including Movement Control and Culling Implemented

Fifth Outbreak of Avian Influenza This Winter Season

H5 subtype avian influenza antigen has been detected at a meat duck farm in Seosan, Chungnam. This is the fifth case since the first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a layer farm in Donghae, Gangwon Province on the 29th of last month.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza announced on the 26th that H5 subtype avian influenza antigen was confirmed at a meat duck farm (33,000 birds) in Seosan on the 25th. The determination of high pathogenicity is currently undergoing detailed testing by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, which is expected to take about 1 to 3 days.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters anticipates a high likelihood that the detected H5 subtype avian influenza antigen will be classified as highly pathogenic. Accordingly, in accordance with the "Avian Influenza Prevention Guidelines (Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Notice)" and the "Avian Influenza Emergency Action Guidelines (AI SOP)," an initial response team has been proactively deployed to the affected farm to implement quarantine measures such as access control, culling, and epidemiological investigation.

The headquarters emphasized refraining from entering migratory bird habitats where there is a possibility of virus contact, thorough compliance with basic biosecurity measures including two-step disinfection of farm entry vehicles (fixed disinfecting stations and high-pressure sprayers), prohibition of egg transport vehicles from entering the farm, changing into dedicated boots before entering poultry houses, and cleaning and disinfecting machinery and equipment before bringing them into the poultry houses.

Additionally, livestock farmers were urged to immediately report to quarantine authorities not only when major suspected symptoms of highly pathogenic avian influenza such as increased mortality, decreased egg production, and reduced feed intake are observed in their poultry, but also if any mild symptoms are detected.