Source:
https://m.khan.co.kr/economy/economy-general/article/202211061613001
Highly pathogenic AI confirmed at 150,000 laying hen farms… first this fall
2022.11.06 16:13 input
Reporter Ho-Jun Lee
yunhap news
The highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI), which skyrocketed egg prices due to a large-scale epidemic in the winter of 2020, is wriggling again. The first highly pathogenic AI was discovered this fall on a laying hen farm, and the frequency of occurrence is increasing.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on the 6th, a total of 7 cases of highly pathogenic AI were confirmed in poultry farms this fall. Earlier on the 5th, the Central Accident Response Headquarters for Highly Pathogenic AI announced that it had confirmed H5N1 type highly pathogenic AI at three locations: a broiler farm and a broiler duck farm in Cheongju-si, North Chungcheong Province, and a laying hen farm in Sunchang-gun, Jeollabuk-do. It is the first time this fall that highly pathogenic AI has been confirmed in a laying hen farm.
The farm is raising about 154,000 laying hens, and was confirmed after reporting suspicion of AI. The heavy water headquarters confirmed the avian influenza H5 antigen, dispatched an initial response team to the site, and conducted access control, slaughter, and epidemiological investigations on the farm. An order to temporarily suspend movement has been issued to local governments and affiliated companies that have occurred such as Chungbuk, Sejong, Cheonan, Chungcheongnam-do, and the entire poultry farm in Jeollabuk-do.
The government is concerned that the virus will spread nationwide, mainly in wild birds, as highly pathogenic AIs are being confirmed one after another in migratory bird observation areas.
From October to November 3, a total of 17 wild bird AIs were identified, of which 11 were highly pathogenic and 3 were low pathogenic. The remaining three cases are being tested for high pathogenicity. Areas where highly pathogenic AI has been confirmed are nationwide, including Incheon, Gyeonggi, Chungnam, Chungbuk, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam.
The government, which has established special quarantine measures for livestock infectious diseases this winter and is conducting quarantine work, is very nervous about the appearance of highly pathogenic AI.
H5N1 type highly pathogenic AI was a popular AI from the winter of 2020 to the spring of 2021. At that time, 29.93 million eggs including laying hens were slaughtered, causing a nationwide egg riot that cost more than 10,000 won per 30 eggs. In the midst of a difficult shopping cart situation due to the high inflation, the government is in a situation where it is necessary to prevent the reappearance of the 'egg crisis' through large-scale slaughter.
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Jeong Hwang-geun said at a countermeasures meeting held on the 5th, “As highly pathogenic avian influenza antigen was confirmed for the first time this winter at a laying hen farm, especially in areas with large concentrations of laying hens such as Gyeonggi-do and Chungnam, and high pathogenic avian influenza in the past. We request that the 16 cities and counties, including Cheonan and Icheon, be managed more closely.”
In addition, "Since it is a critical time with a high probability of outbreak and spread of avian influenza, each local government urges each local government to not carry out formal farm inspections tied to local paternalism, but to work with caution, such as promptly correcting even minor deficiencies." did.
The quarantine authorities plan to conduct detailed inspections on poultry farms across the country by the 9th, and check whether the farms susceptible to infection comply with the quarantine rules by the 11th.
