Highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak at duck farm in Yeongam, Jeonnam

(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Yoon-gu = The Central Disaster Management Headquarters for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) announced on the 9th that HPAI has occurred at a meat duck farm located in Yeongam County, South Jeolla Province. This is the 8th occurrence of HPAI this winter and the first at a meat duck farm. The headquarters has deployed an initial response team to the farm in accordance with quarantine guidelines and emergency action instructions, implementing measures such as access control, culling, and epidemiological investigation. In addition, to prevent the spread of HPAI, a 24-hour temporary suspension of movement has been ordered for all duck farms and related livestock facilities and livestock vehicles nationwide. The headquarters will conduct a joint detailed inspection of duck contract farms under the same group as the affected farm and all duck farms in South Jeolla Province until the 19th, and will strengthen the inspection rate at the slaughter stage of slaughterhouses affiliated with the group from 30% to 60%. The headquarters emphasized the importance of thoroughly adhering to basic quarantine rules, such as refraining from entering areas where migratory birds, which may come into contact with the virus, are present, disinfecting entry vehicles, and changing into dedicated boots before entering the barn.