Emergency Quarantine Authorities Caught In Fourth Confirmation … Is Avian Flu A Pandemic?

Since the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) was confirmed in laying hen farms in Yeoju, Gyeonggi-do, four highly pathogenic AIs have already been confirmed this winter. On day 7, there is a high probability that 3,000 quail will die at a quail farm located in Eumseong-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, leading to a high possibility of a fifth confirmed case.

On the 8th, the Avian Influenza Accident Control Headquarters (Director Hyun-soo Kim, Minister of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Livestock) announced that since the first highly pathogenic AI was confirmed at a duck farm in Jeongeup, Jeollabuk-do on the 26th of last month, two highly pathogenic AIs have been confirmed so far, including two ducks and two laying hens. After the quail farm in Eumseong-gun, Chungbuk on the 7th, the duck farm in Naju, Jeollanam-do also reported suspicions on the 8th.

Pistol-negative quail farms, which have reported suspicions due to the rapid mortality rate, have already detected H5N8-type avian influenza antigens spreading in Korea and are being tested for their high pathogenicity. The duck farm in Naju is also highly pathogenic as the H5 antigen is detected.

Jungsubon said: “There have been no cases of horizontal transmission between farms in all five, including the quail farms in Eumseong, whose high pathogenicity has not been confirmed.” In 12 days after the first confirmation from the farm, there were confirmed cases in four farms, but Jungsubon’s position is that it is contagious from wild birds, not transmission between farms.

However, the duck farm in Naju, which was reported recently on the 8th, is a farm related to the farm in Yeongam-gun, which was confirmed to have high pathogenicity on the 4th of this month, and the concerns about horizontal spread are high.

Although there has yet to be a spread among domestic farms, the expectation that highly pathogenic AI will arrive in Korea this winter has been expected since the beginning of this year. Highly pathogenic avian influenza type H5N8 was confirmed in Russia in August and Kazakhstan in September due to the migration of migratory birds after a pandemic in Hungary and Poland in March and April this year. Consequently, this year alone, 749 cases of highly pathogenic AI were confirmed in 21 countries.

In Korea, highly pathogenic AI antigens began to be detected from October 21 and 49 cases of H5 type and H7 type antigens have already been detected since 8, of which only 19 cases were confirmed as highly pathogenic.

An official from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food warned: “Considering past cases, the possibility of highly pathogenic AI occurring in poultry farms may be higher until January, when the influx of migratory birds increases.” In the winter of 2019, 710,000 in November, 1.28 million in December and 1.63 million in January. Considering that highly pathogenic AI is often transmitted by migratory birds, concerns about highly pathogenic AI are expected to rise in December and January.

The government is controlling the access of livestock vehicles and livestock workers in the vicinity of migratory birds. As we disinfect small rivers near poultry farms, as well as migratory bird arrivals, we strive to prevent avian influenza viruses from entering poultry farms by spraying quicklime.

Although 4 cases of highly pathogenic AI were confirmed this year, the price of chicken, duck and eggs has not yet been significantly affected. This year, the number of breeder hens, broilers and ducks was 7.39 million, 8.82 million and 93 million, respectively, 4.5%, 8% and -2.4% more than normal. Although the number of ducks raised is slightly lower than normal, the frozen population is 5.58 million, almost double the normal population (288 million). The price is 1,120 won for 10 special eggs, 1.3% of the average year, 1,296 won for broilers, 5.6% of the average year, and 1,446 won for ducks, 20.5% less than the average year.

An official with the Ministry of Agriculture and Food said: “There have not yet been reports of human infections with the avian influenza virus in the world, and the virus is known to die when cooked at high temperatures.”

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