Culling at Affected Farm and Quarantine Measures Within a 10km Radius
Temporary Standstill Order Until 11 a.m. on the 19th
An outbreak of H5 avian influenza has occurred at a meat duck farm in Mujeong-myeon, Damyang County, prompting an emergency response from livestock authorities. The photo shows a "No Entry" sign installed at the entrance of the meat farm to enforce control measures. Provided by Jeonnam Province.
On the 18th, an H5-type avian influenza (AI) antigen was detected at a meat duck farm in Mujung-myeon, Damyang-gun, Jeollanam-do, putting livestock authorities on high alert.
The farm in question raises approximately 12,000 40-day-old meat ducks. During a pre-shipment inspection at the slaughterhouse, a precise test by the Jeollanam-do Animal Hygiene Laboratory confirmed the presence of H5-type avian influenza.
The final determination of whether it is highly pathogenic is currently under precise examination by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency and is expected to take 1 to 3 days.
Jeollanam-do announced that immediately after the detection of the H5-type AI antigen, two members of the initial quarantine team from the Livestock Sanitation and Quarantine Support Headquarters were dispatched to implement quarantine measures, including restricting access to the farm and disinfection. The province also sent a field support officer to investigate the surrounding environment and analyze the cause of the outbreak.
To prevent further spread, Jeollanam-do preemptively culled the poultry and designated a 10km radius around the affected farm as a quarantine zone, enforcing movement restrictions, disinfection, and monitoring.
A 24-hour standstill order was also issued until 11 a.m. on the 19th for all JD Farm-affiliated farms nationwide, as well as duck farms and related livestock facilities (such as slaughterhouses and feed factories) and livestock vehicles in Jeollanam-do and Jeollabuk-do (Sunchang).
Park Hyunsik, Director of Agriculture, Livestock and Food at Jeollanam-do, said, "If disinfection and access control are not strictly implemented at poultry farms, there is a very high possibility of additional outbreaks," and urged, "Poultry farms must thoroughly control and disinfect vehicles and people entering the premises, and strictly follow basic quarantine rules such as changing boots in the anteroom."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
