(Pyeongtaek=Yonhap News) Reporter Kim Kwang-ho = In the southern Gyeonggi region, including Pyeongtaek and Hwaseong, as cases of avian influenza (AI) are being confirmed consecutively, local governments and poultry farms are intensifying their preventive activities under a tense atmosphere.
According to the Central Headquarters for the Response to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (hereinafter referred to as the Central Headquarters) and local governments on the 16th, the H5 type AI antigen was confirmed at a laying hen farm (housing approximately 300,000 birds) in Hwaseong City.
The Central Headquarters and Hwaseong City have deployed an initial response team to the farm to implement preventive measures, including access control, culling, and epidemiological investigation.
The day before, highly pathogenic AI antigen was confirmed at a laying hen farm (housing 135,000 birds) in Pyeongtaek City.
Additionally, on the 10th, highly pathogenic AI antigen was detected at a broiler farm (housing 19,000 birds) in Hwaseong City.
The Pyeongtaek B farm, where the antigen was confirmed this time, is within the 3 km quarantine zone of the C farm, where the antigen was detected four days earlier.
As AI influenza is being confirmed consecutively at poultry farms throughout the southern Gyeonggi region, local governments and livestock farmers are making all-out efforts to prevent further spread.
Pyeongtaek City, after receiving a report of suspected highly pathogenic AI from the B farm on the 14th, ordered the culling of all livestock in the farm to prevent the spread.
On the 15th, when the AI antigen was finally confirmed, the city's disaster safety headquarters meeting decided to cull preventively the livestock in farms within a 500-meter radius of the affected farm.
Additionally, measures such as restricting the movement of poultry farms within the quarantine zone, conducting detailed inspections, operating a 24-hour checkpoint at the entrance of the farms, disinfecting vehicles targeting migratory bird arrival areas, expanding the operation of disinfection facilities, and implementing a project to block wild birds have been taken.
An official from Pyeongtaek City said, "We ask farm owners and local residents to strictly follow the preventive measures and refrain from moving around to block the spread of AI," and "The city will also make efforts to minimize farm damage caused by additional outbreaks."
Hwaseong City, where approximately 4 million poultry, including chickens, are raised in 60 farms, is also implementing quarantine measures, disinfection, strict management of visitors to the farms, and strengthening promotional activities targeting farm personnel.