Gwangju: South Korea reported a highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) case at a wild geese farm in the country's southwest, authorities said Monday. The case was discovered at a small wild geese farm in Gwangju, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul, last Tuesday, prompting authorities to raise the alert level and take quarantine measures, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the ministry has elevated the AI crisis alert from "caution" to "severe," which activates local livestock disease control centers in all municipalities. Under this elevated alert, frequent inspections will be conducted at poultry farms. Restrictions will also be enforced on the period for mass stocking and shipment at broiler and duck farms. Additionally, gatherings or events involving personnel working at livestock and poultry farms will be prohibited.
An early epidemiological investigation at the affected farm revealed violations of operation regulations, including unregistered livestock operations and failure to regularly disinfect facilities, the ministry stated.