Gyeonggi Province announced on the 24th that it is implementing emergency quarantine measures following the deaths of approximately 200 chickens from low-pathogenic avian influenza (AI) in Pyeongtaek.
The province stated: "As AI has occurred, we are restricting movement to the affected farm and implementing emergency measures including disinfection," and added, "We plan to dispatch disease control teams and strengthen quarantine in nearby areas until the situation stabilizes."
There are no other poultry farms in the immediate vicinity of the farm where AI occurred, but an investigation found that within a 3 km radius, 11 farms are raising a total of 390,000 chickens and ducks.
Accordingly, the province dispatched two livestock quarantine officials and three disinfection vehicles to the site from the morning of the 23rd when the report was received, conducting emergency measures including disinfection and collecting samples such as feces for detailed testing.
The province is also strengthening quarantine measures by prohibiting the shipment of eggs produced at the affected farm and controlling the movement of people and goods.
Since the AI detected in Pyeongtaek has been identified as low-pathogenic, with a low mortality rate and weak transmission capacity unlike high-pathogenic strains, requiring neither culling nor quarantine of surrounding farms, the province is not imposing restrictions extending to nearby areas. However, it plans to strengthen disease control measures in preparation for potential contingencies.
In particular, the province plans to strengthen feces testing of resident birds and migratory birds at four major migratory bird habitats—Sihwa Lake in Ansan, the Namhan River in Yeoju, Dumul Meori in Yangpyeong, and Imjin River in Paju—to prevent the spread of AI through migratory and resident birds.
Additionally, the province has designated nine cities and counties—Icheon, Yangju, Anseong, Pyeongtaek, Pocheon, Goyang, Gimpo, Yongin, and Hwaseong—as "intensive management areas" in regions of past AI occurrences and near migratory bird habitats, and plans to conduct blood tests on raised chickens and ducks at three-day intervals.
Furthermore, during the "winter AI special quarantine period" through February, the province will designate every Wednesday as "Disinfection Day," mobilizing 67 disinfection vehicles to support general disinfection operations, while supplying disinfectants to chicken and duck farms.
Currently, Gyeonggi Province has 1,817 farms raising 49.39 million chickens and ducks, and AI outbreaks occurred in Icheon in 2003 and Yangju in 2004, resulting in the deaths of 100 and 6,300 poultry respectively.
A provincial official stated, "In the case of Pyeongtaek, we assess the situation is not serious as the mortality rate is low and egg-laying rates and feed intake are currently increasing," and added, "We will focus our efforts on quarantine activities to prevent AI from occurring or spreading."
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