Gyeonggi Province to Hold Emergency Quarantine Inspection Meeting with 18 Cities and Counties After Highly Pathogenic AI Outbreak in Yeoncheon

Movement restricted at 17 farms within a 10-kilometer radius of the affected farm
Quarantine measures for 813,000 poultry
Repeated detections in wild birds in Gimpo and Yongin
Intensive disinfection and surveillance at 21 migratory bird habitats

Gyeonggi Province will hold an emergency quarantine inspection meeting this afternoon, November 6, after highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) was detected at a layer farm in Yeoncheon County and the virus was subsequently found in wild birds in Gimpo and Yongin. The meeting, chaired by Son Imseong, Gyeonggi Province’s Second Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs, will be attended by vice heads of 18 cities and counties across the province, including Yeoncheon, Gimpo and Yongin.

A disinfection vehicle from the Gyeonggi Northern Animal Hygiene Testing Station sprays disinfectant around livestock farms to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI). Provided by Gyeonggi Province.

According to Gyeonggi Province, highly pathogenic AI was confirmed on November 4 at a layer farm in Sinseo-myeon, Yeoncheon County. The emergency culling of approximately 91,000 laying hens at the farm was completed on November 5. The province has restricted the movement of 813,000 poultry at 17 farms within a 10-kilometer radius of the affected farm, and is conducting detailed testing and intensive disinfection.

Last month, AI viruses were detected in the lower reaches of the Han River in Gimpo and in Cheongmi Stream in Yongin. On November 5, another positive case was confirmed in the carcass of a wild bird found in Sau-dong, Gimpo. The province plans to step up disinfection and surveillance at 21 migratory bird habitats, in poultry-dense areas and at large-scale layer farms. It will also deploy 150 disinfection vehicles and 244 officers assigned to poultry farms to check whether each farm is complying with quarantine protocols.

At the meeting, participants will first review the quarantine situation in Yeoncheon and neighboring cities and counties, then discuss risk factors and measures to prevent the spread in each participating city or county. The province will ask cities and counties to strengthen disinfection at poultry farms, livestock facilities and vehicles during the nationwide intensive disinfection period, which runs through November 17. It will also ask them to check farm access controls, the operation of egg transfer facilities, and whether vaccination and loading/unloading teams have filed advance notifications.

Son Imseong, the Second Vice Governor for Administrative Affairs, said, "Livestock disease prevention is an important livelihood issue. It not only prevents losses for livestock farmers, but also protects the stable supply of livestock products such as eggs and helps keep grocery prices affordable for residents. With the arrival of winter migratory birds raising the risk of further outbreaks, the situation is serious. I urge everyone to remain vigilant and devote all their efforts to proactive measures to prevent the spread and rigorous, field-focused quarantine management."

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