Incheon Gyeyang-gu (Mayor Yoon Hwan) announced that it will strengthen special quarantine measures to prevent the occurrence of avian influenza (AI) and foot-and-mouth disease during the Lunar New Year holiday. As avian influenza occurs sporadically nationwide and cases are reported in areas adjacent to Gyeyang-gu, the quarantine tension level is being raised even higher.
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[Korean Today] Gyeyang-gu strengthens special quarantine measures against AI and foot-and-mouth disease in preparation for the Lunar New Year holiday © Reporter Seung-ju Ji |
Following the confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) in Ganghwa, Incheon last November, additional confirmed cases occurred in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, near Gyeyang-gu in December. In response, Gyeyang-gu upgraded the quarantine countermeasures situation room, which has been in operation since October 2024, on December 27, and established a disaster safety countermeasures headquarters to maintain a 24-hour emergency system.
Gyeyang-gu is enforcing administrative orders targeting poultry farms, including ▲prohibiting entry by only certain livestock vehicles ▲restricting removal of manure from laying hens ▲restricting entry by livestock workers inside and outside the farm ▲prohibiting entry into migratory bird arrival areas ▲prohibiting free-range breeding. Quarantine measures have also been strengthened, including applying lime to farm entrances, using disposable egg seats, and inspecting disinfection facilities on farms.
In order to prevent foot-and-mouth disease, quarantine officials have been directly supporting vaccinations for livestock farms in the region since October of last year, and have completed training on vaccination methods and farm vaccination confirmation. This is a measure to preemptively reduce the risk of infection in livestock whose immunity is weakened during the winter.
As large-scale travel by family and vehicles is expected during the Lunar New Year holiday, we plan to maintain a state of quarantine alert and further strengthen measures to prevent the spread of the virus.
A Gyeyang-gu official said, “The AI crisis alert is currently at the highest level, serious, so farm owners must implement access control and thorough disinfection,” and asked, “We also ask visitors returning home to refrain from visiting farms during the Lunar New Year holiday to join us in preventing the spread of the virus.”
Goyang-gu will continue to do its utmost to implement quarantine measures and plans to continue conducting on-site inspections and providing support to prevent the spread of livestock infectious diseases.
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