Theresa42
Well-known member
Hat-tip, Carol@SC!
Korea to implement special bird flu preventative measures beginning in November
Oct 15, 2007
Korea plans to tighten oversight and enforce countermeasures to prevent the outbreak of bird flu during the winter months, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said Monday (Oct. 15).
The plan, which goes into effect on November 1 and will be enforced through February, focuses attention on getting poultry farmers to exercise greater caution in protecting their feed and birds. The four-month period coincides with the arrival of migratory birds that have been cited for causing the avian disease.
"Of the seven cases of bird flu outbreaks reported last year, four involved contamination caused by the farmer entering coops wearing regular boots and shoes," said Kim Chang-seob, the ministry's chief veterinary officer.
He said authorities have told all poultry farmers to prepare special "decontamination" footwear that should only be worn inside coops, and to properly cover feed they give to their chicken and ducks so that migratory or wild birds that may have the bird flu virus cannot contaminate the food source.
To enforce these rules, Kim said farms that do not follow the new safety procedures and consequently report a bird flu outbreak will not be entitled to full compensation for birds culled.
He, also said farms that report the suspicious deaths of animals quickly will be given a reward of 1 million won ($1,090).
The official, in addition, said 14 regions that have been hit repeatedly by the bird flu will come under special scrutiny this year, with inspectors paying daily visits. These include a bird sanctuary for migratory birds, and poultry farms.
If a bird flu case is reported, the government quarantines an area up to 3 kilometers around the suspected site and destroys all birds that could have contracted the disease. Movement of chickens and ducks from the region and the surrounding area will be forbidden for at least 30 days.
The country has been hit by a bird flu epidemic twice in the winters of 2003 and 2006. In the last outbreak Seoul spent 58.2 billion won ($63.4 million) to compensate farmers for culled animals.
Nine million ducks and 70 million chickens are farmed domestically in Korea.
No Korean has yet contracted bird flu, but 202 people from 12 countries have perished from the disease.
http://www.kois.go.kr/News/News/NewsView.asp?serial_no=20071015010
Korea to implement special bird flu preventative measures beginning in November
Oct 15, 2007
Korea plans to tighten oversight and enforce countermeasures to prevent the outbreak of bird flu during the winter months, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said Monday (Oct. 15).
The plan, which goes into effect on November 1 and will be enforced through February, focuses attention on getting poultry farmers to exercise greater caution in protecting their feed and birds. The four-month period coincides with the arrival of migratory birds that have been cited for causing the avian disease.
"Of the seven cases of bird flu outbreaks reported last year, four involved contamination caused by the farmer entering coops wearing regular boots and shoes," said Kim Chang-seob, the ministry's chief veterinary officer.
He said authorities have told all poultry farmers to prepare special "decontamination" footwear that should only be worn inside coops, and to properly cover feed they give to their chicken and ducks so that migratory or wild birds that may have the bird flu virus cannot contaminate the food source.
To enforce these rules, Kim said farms that do not follow the new safety procedures and consequently report a bird flu outbreak will not be entitled to full compensation for birds culled.
He, also said farms that report the suspicious deaths of animals quickly will be given a reward of 1 million won ($1,090).
The official, in addition, said 14 regions that have been hit repeatedly by the bird flu will come under special scrutiny this year, with inspectors paying daily visits. These include a bird sanctuary for migratory birds, and poultry farms.
If a bird flu case is reported, the government quarantines an area up to 3 kilometers around the suspected site and destroys all birds that could have contracted the disease. Movement of chickens and ducks from the region and the surrounding area will be forbidden for at least 30 days.
The country has been hit by a bird flu epidemic twice in the winters of 2003 and 2006. In the last outbreak Seoul spent 58.2 billion won ($63.4 million) to compensate farmers for culled animals.
Nine million ducks and 70 million chickens are farmed domestically in Korea.
No Korean has yet contracted bird flu, but 202 people from 12 countries have perished from the disease.
http://www.kois.go.kr/News/News/NewsView.asp?serial_no=20071015010