Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Detected at Layer Chicken Farm in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province
The Central Accident Management Headquarters for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (AI) announced on December 25 that highly pathogenic AI has been detected at a layer chicken farm in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, which raises 250,000 birds.
This marks the 22nd case of highly pathogenic AI at a poultry farm during this winter season. Highly pathogenic AI has been confirmed at layer chicken farms for three consecutive days: in Eumseong, North Chungcheong Province on December 23, in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province on December 24, and now in Pyeongtaek.
According to an assessment by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, the infectivity of this season's highly pathogenic AI virus (serotype H5N1) is more than 10 times higher than in previous years.
The Central Headquarters emphasized that, because the disease can now spread easily even with a viral load more than 10 times lower than before, stricter disinfection and access control measures are needed than ever before.
The Central Headquarters will operate a special task force for disease control and dispatch officials at the director level from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to high-risk areas (11 cities and counties) where further outbreaks are a concern, including Gyeonggi, South Chungcheong, North Chungcheong, North Jeolla, and Sejong.
For layer chicken farms in the four areas at highest risk of outbreaks (Hwaseong, Pyeongtaek, Anseong, and Cheonan), special inspections will be conducted over a seven-day period within the designated disease control zones.
The Central Headquarters also stated that 16 poultry farms where highly pathogenic AI occurred this winter season were found to have failed to comply with basic disease control regulations. As a result, fines will be imposed and compensation for culling will be reduced in accordance with the Act on the Prevention of Contagious Animal Diseases. In addition, violations were identified at 43 other farms.
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