With confirmation that the highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) virus is up to more than 10 times more infectious than in previous years, the government will begin a monthlong special quarantine campaign. The government will assign dedicated officials on a one-to-one basis to 539 layer farms.
The Central Disaster Management Headquarters for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza said on the 5th that it held a quarantine countermeasure meeting presided over by Minister Song Mi-ryung of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and reviewed the recent AI situation and response plans. According to the headquarters, during the winter from late last year to early this year, there were 30 cases of highly pathogenic AI at poultry farms nationwide and 23 cases among wild birds.
This winter, for the first time in Korea, three serotypes of highly pathogenic AI viruses—H5N1, H5N6, and H5N9—were detected simultaneously in both poultry farms and wild birds. In particular, the H5N1 strain that is mainly being detected is analyzed to be more than 10 times more infectious than in previous years, raising concerns about further spread.
Cases were concentrated in the Gyeonggi, Chungcheong, and Jeolla regions. By month, 22 cases occurred in December alone, accounting for most of the total, and cases have continued into January. The headquarters explained that, given past cases, December to January is the period with the most AI occurrences and that it is necessary to minimize any gaps in quarantine.
To prevent additional cases at layer farms, the government will assign dedicated officials on a one-to-one basis for two weeks from today through the 16th to 539 layer farms nationwide with 50,000 or more birds. Risky livestock vehicles such as those transporting eggs, feed, and manure must be pre-registered, and unregistered vehicles will be completely barred from entering farms. For registered vehicles, on-site checks and inspections of quarantine rules at entry and exit will also be strengthened.
In the three high-risk zones, including the Gyeonggi and Chungcheong areas where concern about additional cases is high, as well as 11 localities, the government will dispatch the avian influenza special quarantine unit and on-site response teams from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to conduct intensive inspections. For poultry farms, livestock facilities, and vehicles nationwide, a "nationwide intensive disinfection week" will be operated to disinfect areas near migratory bird habitats and around farms at least twice a day.
To block virus transmission via vehicles, the government will also conduct unannounced environmental tests on high-risk livestock vehicles. Samples will be collected at 222 nationwide base disinfection facilities for detailed testing, and immediate action will be taken if quarantine violations are found.
Minister Song Mi-ryung of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, "This winter is more serious than ever, with diverse virus types and far higher infectiousness than in the past," and added, "All poultry farms and quarantine agencies should further strengthen basic quarantine measures, including controlling the entry of people and vehicles and disinfection."