Cheorwon County in Gangwon Province is blocking access to livestock vehicles in migratory bird habitats and enhancing farm entry management to prevent winter livestock diseases. The county will also administer additional vaccinations for animals that missed their foot-and-mouth disease shots and conduct thorough inspections of pig farms.
According to Cheorwon County, from October 1 to February 28, 2027, it will implement special biosecurity measures against highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) and foot-and-mouth disease. The measures will include road disinfection and farm inspections to prevent African swine fever (ASF).
The AI measures will focus on controlling vehicle movement from migratory bird habitats to farms and managing farm access. Livestock vehicles will be prohibited from entering controlled areas, and intensive disinfection will be conducted at farm entry points.
Personnel and vehicles involved in vaccination and loading/unloading will be required to pre-register in the National Animal Disease Control System (KAHIS) seven days before entering farms. This measure aims to manage the movement of workers and vehicles that access multiple farms, reducing the risk of virus transmission between farms.
Farmers must also check pre-registration status when scheduling vaccination and shipping activities. Ensuring that disinfection and external access management are adhered to at farm entrances is crucial to the effectiveness of these measures. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on October 2 the biosecurity standards that poultry farms must follow during the special biosecurity period.
Foot-and-mouth disease prevention efforts will focus on minimizing vaccination gaps. Additional vaccinations will be administered to animals that missed or postponed their shots. The county will monitor antibody positivity rates among different livestock species, with a particular emphasis on inspecting cattle under 12 months old.
Antibody positivity rates indicate whether antibodies have formed following vaccination. By managing both vaccination status and antibody formation, the goal is to reduce the number of vulnerable animals. The movement of manure from cattle and pigs outside designated areas will also be restricted to control pathways leading off farms.
In response to ASF, the county will focus on disinfecting major roads near the military demarcation line and enhancing biosecurity measures at pig farms. Comprehensive inspections will be conducted at pig farms to confirm infection status and strengthen surveillance.
This strategy applies specific measures for each disease, including access control to migratory bird habitats, additional vaccinations, and inspections of pig farms, while collectively managing movements in and out of farms. Effective biosecurity will require the participation of farmers in vaccination and inspection efforts alongside disinfection and access control.
A Cheorwon County official stated, “To prevent outbreaks of highly pathogenic AI and foot-and-mouth disease during the winter, thorough biosecurity at the farm level is essential. We will work diligently to block livestock diseases through these special biosecurity measures.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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