Wonju City Activates 'Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters' After Avian Influenza Confirmed in Hojeo-myeon Wild Birds

Highly Pathogenic AI Alert Near Wonjucheon
Wonju City Restricts Movement Until February 6
Immediate Reporting Required for Discovered Carcasses

Wonju City in Gangwon Province has launched an all-out response after a highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) virus was detected in the carcass of a wild bird found near Wonjucheon in Hojeo-myeon.

Wonju City held a situation assessment meeting on the 21st, chaired by Vice Mayor Moonki Kim. Provided by Wonju City

On January 21, the city held a situation assessment meeting chaired by Vice Mayor Moonki Kim and decided to activate the Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for animal infectious diseases.

The Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters plans to focus its efforts on quarantine measures, farm disinfection, and preventive public awareness campaigns to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza.

The main quarantine measures include: ▲Designating wild bird surveillance zones (within a 10 km radius of the site where the antigen was detected) and issuing an order to restrict the movement of all poultry within the quarantine area until February 6; ▲Strengthening AI quarantine measures at poultry farms, migratory bird habitats, reservoirs, and small streams; ▲Enhancing monitoring for abnormal signs in wild birds; ▲Surveillance for suspected human AI cases; and ▲Disseminating public guidelines for preventive actions.

Meanwhile, human avian influenza infection is a respiratory disease that occurs through direct contact with infected poultry or with objects contaminated by bird droppings or secretions. The incubation period is 2 to 7 days (up to a maximum of 10 days), and symptoms may include fever, cough, sore throat, and conjunctivitis.

There have been no human cases reported domestically to date, but sporadic cases have been reported overseas recently, making adherence to preventive guidelines crucial.

Preventive guidelines include: ▲Refraining from visiting migratory bird habitats; ▲Avoiding contact with wild bird and poultry carcasses; ▲Practicing thorough personal hygiene, such as handwashing; ▲Not touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with hands; and ▲Fully cooking poultry and eggs.

If you develop respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, or sore throat, or ocular symptoms such as conjunctivitis within 10 days of visiting domestic or international AI-affected areas or farms, you must immediately report to the infectious disease management team at your local public health center or to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency call center.

Additionally, to prevent the spread of avian influenza, if you discover a dead wild bird, avoid direct contact and immediately report it to the Environmental and Natural Environment Team. The city plans to promptly collect reported carcasses and implement quarantine measures.

Vice Mayor Moonki Kim emphasized, "The number of patients with respiratory infections such as influenza, which present with similar symptoms, is also increasing recently, so making proper handwashing a habit is most important," and added, "I urge all related workers and those visiting migratory bird habitats or poultry farms to strictly follow personal hygiene guidelines, including wearing masks."

He further stated, "We will do our utmost to prevent the spread of avian influenza."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.