Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province operates a special quarantine period for livestock infectious diseases in winter

(Jeonju = Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Dong-cheol = Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province announced on the 2nd that it will operate a special quarantine measure period for 5 months from this month to February next year to welcome the winter season when the risk of livestock infectious diseases increases and will make every effort to block highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI), foot-and-mouth disease, and African swine fever (ASF).

This winter, thorough preparations are needed due to the increase in the occurrence of highly pathogenic AI in overseas wild birds, the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease SAT1 type in China and Mongolia, and new risk factors for the spread of ASF.

Accordingly, the province operates a 24-hour emergency quarantine system in cooperation with the Animal Hygiene Testing Laboratory, 14 cities, counties, and related organizations and promotes customized quarantine measures for each disease.

First, to prevent highly pathogenic AI, we intensively disinfect migratory bird habitats and the surroundings of farms, control entry of livestock vehicles, and operate a three-stage disinfection system.

In particular, in the Gimje area, where an outbreak has occurred for three consecutive years, quarantine vulnerability factors are pre-checked focusing on clusters of laying hens, and a quarantine officer is designated and managed for each poultry farm.

In the case of foot-and-mouth disease, surveillance of vulnerable farms and vaccination management will be strengthened in connection with the government's SAT1 type vaccine stockpiling and vaccination plan. Farms with insufficient antibody positivity rates are inspected and receive supplementary vaccinations, and the movement of cow and pig waste outside the area is restricted.

African swine fever is managed intensively on three major risk factors: wild boars, feed containing plasma proteins, and illegal livestock products. We plan to block the inflow of the virus by capturing wild boars in risk areas and strengthening inspections of eight quarantine facilities at pig farms.

Min Seon-sik, director of the Provincial Agriculture, Life and Livestock Industry Bureau, said, “As the risk of the introduction and outbreak of livestock infectious diseases is high this winter, we will preemptively block risk factors and minimize damage through first response.” He added, “Livestock farms should also thoroughly comply with basic quarantine rules such as vehicle disinfection and vaccination.”