Gangwon Province to Implement Special Quarantine Measures for Avian Influenza and Foot-and-Mouth Disease Through February Next Year

Establishment of Quarantine Response Headquarters and 24-Hour Emergency System
Strengthened Quarantine Management for Migratory Bird Habitats and Poultry Farms
Earlier FMD Vaccination Schedule and Expanded Testing

Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province (Governor Kim Jin-tae) has designated the period from October 1 of this year to the end of February next year as the "Special Quarantine Countermeasures Period for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (AI) and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)." During this period, the province will implement intensive quarantine measures to prevent the outbreak of livestock infectious diseases classified as social disasters.

Five Key Biosecurity Rules to Prevent Avian Influenza. Provided by Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province

Throughout the special quarantine period, the province will make every effort to block the introduction and spread of livestock infectious diseases through proactive and thorough quarantine measures, aiming to protect the lives and property of its residents.

To preemptively prevent highly pathogenic avian influenza from entering farms, ten high-risk migratory bird habitats have been designated as restricted zones for livestock vehicle access. In addition, 34 disinfection vehicles from local governments and agricultural cooperatives will be deployed to carry out intensive disinfection of the surrounding roads and access routes to poultry farms in these areas.

The province will also conduct regular inspections to monitor compliance with 11 administrative orders and 7 quarantine standards, while implementing a variety of quarantine measures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases between farms.

Key measures include establishing control posts at large-scale laying hen and breeder farms, restricting the placement of broilers and meat ducks for a certain period after shipment, and shortening the validity period of poultry movement permits.

Furthermore, starting this year, the province has improved its system to reduce the reduction rate of culling compensation for farms participating in the laying hen quarantine standards classification, and has expanded farmers' options to exclude their farms from culling. In addition, from January 22, 2026, administrative penalties will be strengthened if poultry integrators neglect quarantine management, such as failing to conduct quarantine inspections at contract farms.

As part of quarantine measures to prevent foot-and-mouth disease, the province moved up the vaccination period from October to September and has strengthened antibody testing for cattle under 12 months of age to prevent missed vaccinations.

In particular, for cities and counties with low antibody positivity rates for foot-and-mouth disease vaccines, antibody testing will be expanded from next year to improve immunity in vulnerable areas. In the event of an outbreak, the province will maximize quarantine effectiveness and minimize farm damage by implementing full-scale culling at the first outbreak farm in each city or county, while selectively culling only positive animals at subsequently affected farms.

Seok Seonggyun, Director of the Agricultural Policy Bureau of Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province, stated, "During the winter, the risk of virus introduction to farms via migratory birds increases, and the survival period of viruses is prolonged due to low temperatures. Considering these characteristics, strict quarantine measures must be enforced, and active cooperation from livestock farmers and related industry workers is more important than ever."