(Cheonan=Yonhap News) Reporter Yu Uiju = On the 21st, Cheonan City in South Chungcheong Province announced that it has established a rapid response system to prepare for human infection with avian influenza (AI) as the risk of an outbreak increases during the winter season.
Human infection with AI is an acute respiratory infectious disease that occurs through contact with infected poultry or other sources of the virus, and symptoms include respiratory issues, conjunctivitis, and fever.
Although no cases of human infection with AI have been reported domestically so far, there have been successive cases of human infection in Southeast Asia recently.
The city has established a response plan through measures such as setting up an AI human infection response team and emergency contact system, checking and securing necessary materials, promoting awareness among farmers and citizens, and securing isolation wards in medical institutions to prevent human infection and to take swift action when suspected cases occur.
In addition, the city urged adherence to preventive measures such as refraining from visiting areas where migratory birds arrive, avoiding unnecessary contact with wild birds and poultry, washing hands, not touching the eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands, and thoroughly cooking chicken, duck, eggs, and other items at 75 degrees or higher for at least 5 minutes.
Lee Hyeon-gi, head of the Seobuk-gu Health Center, urged, "We will make active efforts to prevent and control the spread of human infection with AI," and asked citizens to follow the preventive measures.
yej@yna.co.kr