Highly pathogenic AI confirmed at Yeoju laying hen farm… Third case this month

Laying hen farm inspections shortened to once every two weeks... Nationwide disinfection until the 17th

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Han Joo-hong = Highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (AI) Central Accident Control Headquarters announced on the 7th that H5N1 type highly pathogenic AI was confirmed at a laying hen farm (rearing about 260,000 birds) in Yeoju-si, Gyeonggi-do.

This is the third case confirmed at a poultry farm this month alone.

On this day, the Central Defense Agency decided to strengthen quarantine management by holding a meeting attended by related organizations and local governments.

Jungsubon is conducting access control, culling, and epidemiological investigations to farms where outbreaks occur. Chicken farms, livestock facilities, and livestock vehicles in Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and North Chungcheong regions were ordered to temporarily suspend movement for 24 hours from midnight the previous day.

We are thoroughly inspecting 38 poultry farms within a 10km radius of the farm where the outbreak occurred, and disinfecting migratory bird habitats and poultry farm access roads across the country.

Jungsubon decided to shorten the detailed inspection cycle of laying hen farms across the country from once a quarter to once every two weeks. Quarantine and disinfection conditions are inspected in 14 complexes where laying hens are concentrated, and carcass inspections are conducted weekly for each farm.

In addition, access control will be strengthened by installing movement control posts not only in large-scale laying hen farms with more than 200,000 chickens, but also in breeder, original breeder, and original duck farms and dense breeding complexes.

Old laying hens and breeders must be shipped only to slaughterhouses, and movement to traditional markets or other poultry farms is prohibited.

In addition, access to vaccination teams at laying hen farms in the Gyeonggi and Chungnam regions will be restricted for 7 days until 9 a.m. on the 14th.

It was also decided to urgently inspect the operation status of egg transfer stations at laying hen farms across the country by the 16th.

Heavy Water Resources plans to operate a nationwide disinfection week until the 17th, and to strengthen management of vehicles and personnel entering the farm.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said, “As three cases of avian influenza occurred at a poultry farm even in early November, the situation is serious with a high level of virus inflow into the farm through wild birds,” and requested, “Please thoroughly carry out quarantine management such as disinfection, surveillance, and inspection.”