(Budget=Yonhap News) Reporter Jeong Yun-deok = The Chungnam Province announced on the 5th that a highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) antigen was detected at a laying hen farm in Sinam-myeon, Yesan County. Earlier this winter, highly pathogenic AI had occurred at eight farms in Chungnam. As the number of laying hens dying suddenly increased tenfold compared to usual, the farm owner reported it to the quarantine authorities, and the Chungnam Animal Hygiene Testing Institute took samples and conducted a detailed test, confirming the H5 antigen. Currently, the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency is conducting a final test for high pathogenicity, with the results expected to take 1-3 days. Highly pathogenic AI also occurred at this farm in January 2022. The Chungnam Province plans to cull 653,000 chickens at the farm, and a temporary suspension of movement has been ordered until 10 PM on the 6th for laying hen farms and related businesses in Chungnam and Gyeonggi Province. Within a 10 km radius of the affected farm, there are 31 farms raising 3,213,000 poultry, and the quarantine authorities plan to conduct detailed inspections of these farms and vehicles.