(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Cha Minji = The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced on the 24th that it will provide an emergency support of 5 billion won in disaster safety special grants to 14 provinces across the country to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI).
The support targets Busan, Daegu, Incheon, Gwangju, Sejong, Gyeonggi, Gangwon, North Chungcheong, South Chungcheong, North Jeolla, South Jeolla, North Gyeongsang, South Gyeongsang, and Jeju.
This comes as highly pathogenic AI has been occurring consecutively in domestic poultry farms recently, and the support is intended to back up local governments' prevention activities. The funds will be used for operating hub disinfection facilities and installing control posts.
Minister of the Interior and Safety Yoon Ho-jung said, "As the conditions for prevention become more stringent with the arrival of migratory birds, local governments should make efforts for preemptive and intensive prevention measures" and "The Ministry of the Interior and Safety will also do our best to prevent the spread of AI and stabilize the situation early, together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, local governments, etc."