As concerns grow over the spread of livestock infectious diseases during the winter, Goyang City will operate a special quarantine period for livestock infectious diseases until February of next year. In order to prevent the spread of major diseases such as avian influenza (AI) and African swine fever (ASF), the city will introduce a big data-based smart quarantine system and deploy six veterinarians to promote thorough prevention and management.
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[Korean Today] Goyang City, Special Quarantine Measures for Livestock Infectious Diseases Implemented… All-out Efforts to Block AI and ASF Outbreaks © Reporter Seung-ju Ji |
As temperatures drop in winter and the survival period of viruses increases, concerns about the spread of livestock infectious diseases are growing. In particular, the crisis alert level was raised to ‘serious’ when highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) occurred at a laying hen farm in Donghae-si, Gangwon-do in October.
Goyang City has set a special quarantine period until February of next year and is strengthening quarantine at major locations such as the Jang Hang Wetland migratory bird arrival area, major entry and exit routes, and rivers. Mayor Lee Dong-hwan of Goyang City said that there is a high possibility of virulent livestock infectious diseases such as avian influenza and African swine fever occurring in the winter, and promised thorough prevention and response through a smart quarantine system.
The city is using big data from the Korea Animal Health Inspection System (KAHIS) to analyze risk factors such as livestock vehicle movement, migratory bird arrival sites, farm surrounding environments, and breeding facilities. Through this, the epidemiological investigation that previously took more than 20 hours has been shortened to less than 4 hours, and livestock vehicle movement is quickly identified through real-time GPS monitoring.
After highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in wild birds in Changneungcheon on November 19, a movement restriction order was issued to 150 poultry farms within a 10km radius. The farms were subject to emergency disinfection and movement restriction measures, and the movement restriction was lifted on the 4th as there were no additional detections. However, the city is continuing to maintain quarantine measures.
In addition, the city has commissioned six veterinarians from among private veterinarians to administer foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease vaccines and monitor animal health. This year, 60,000 cattle were vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease, 10,000 cattle were vaccinated against lumpy skin disease, and 4,000 cattle were blood tested. As a result, Goyang City has not had a single case of lumpy skin disease.
The foot-and-mouth disease antibody formation rate was 99.2% in cattle and 95.5% in pigs, and 5,824 heads were vaccinated against rabies, a zoonotic disease.
The city is also strengthening inspections of vulnerable quarantine areas. It announced intensive inspections of small-scale farms with less than 100 pigs and strong measures for those who violate quarantine rules. In addition, 13 CCTVs were installed at the entrances and exits of pig farms to monitor the approach of wild boars in real time and track the location of livestock vehicles to prevent the spread of ASF.
At the first disinfection station in the Agricultural Technology Center, livestock vehicles and drivers are thoroughly disinfected, and seven quarantine vehicles are periodically disinfecting farms and rivers.
To strengthen autonomous quarantine, the city plans to continue to provide education and publicity to farmers in cooperation with Goyang Livestock Cooperative and seven livestock organizations.
Goyang City plans to prevent the outbreak of virulent livestock infectious diseases in advance and minimize damage to livestock farms through this special quarantine measure.
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