H5 Avian Influenza Detected at Yeongam Broiler Duck Farm... South Jeolla Province Mobilizes All Efforts to Prevent Spread

Initial Response Completed: Access Control and Culling Implemented
10-Kilometer Quarantine Zone Established

On December 9, South Jeolla Province completed an initial rapid response to an H5 avian influenza (AI) antigen detected at a broiler duck farm in Sijong-myeon, Yeongam, and is now making every effort to prevent further spread.

This farm raises approximately 20,000 broiler ducks aged 42 days. Prior to shipment to the slaughterhouse, a detailed inspection by the Jeonnam Provincial Animal Hygiene Testing Institute confirmed the presence of H5 AI. The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency is currently testing to determine whether it is highly pathogenic.

Immediately after the detection of the H5 antigen, South Jeolla Province deployed two members of the Initial Response Team from the Livestock Hygiene and Quarantine Support Headquarters to implement control measures such as restricting access to the farm and disinfection. Two provincial field support officers were also dispatched to conduct an environmental survey and analyze the cause of the outbreak.

In addition, to prevent further spread, the province carried out a preemptive culling at the affected farm and designated a 10-kilometer radius around the farm as a quarantine zone, strengthening movement restrictions, disinfection, and surveillance.

All duck farms, slaughterhouses, feed mills, and other livestock facilities and vehicles nationwide have been placed under a 24-hour standstill order until 12:00 p.m. on December 10. Disinfection is being intensified at poultry farms and related livestock facilities.

As of December 9, a total of seven cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza have been reported nationwide (five in Gyeonggi, one in Gwangju, and one in North Chungcheong). For South Jeolla Province, this is the first case this winter since the broiler duck farm outbreak in Yeonggwang in March.

Park Hyunsik, Director of the Agriculture, Livestock and Food Bureau of South Jeolla Province, stated, "With the full arrival of winter migratory birds, the risk of additional outbreaks is very high, as highly pathogenic AI has already been detected in wild birds (Yeongam and Gangjin). We strongly urge farms to strictly adhere to basic biosecurity measures such as access control, use of anterooms, and disinfection when entering livestock facilities."