Highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) has been confirmed in wild birds at Suncheon Bay, marking the first detection this winter. The government has raised the national crisis alert level from 'caution' to 'serious' and activated a 24-hour emergency response system.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced that the National Wildlife Disease Control Center conducted a detailed examination of wild bird droppings collected from Suncheon Bay on October 12, resulting in the final detection of the H5 strain of highly pathogenic AI virus on October 20. Confirmation of the N type will take an additional 3 to 5 days through further genetic sequencing tests.
This detection comes as winter migratory birds have begun arriving in the country since September, coinciding with an increase in highly pathogenic AI detections among overseas wild birds. From January to August this year, there were 2,957 cases of highly pathogenic AI detected in overseas wild birds, more than double the 1,432 cases reported during the same period last year.
On the same day, the government elevated the national AI crisis alert to 'serious' and activated the Central Disaster Response Headquarters for avian influenza. All local governments across the country have also established emergency response headquarters to address the situation.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment will conduct special surveillance within a 10-kilometer radius of the detection site, including searches for dead wild birds and detailed investigations of migratory birds. Local governments have been requested to implement emergency quarantine measures such as on-site disinfection and access control.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will enforce movement restrictions and detailed inspections on poultry within a 10-kilometer radius of the detection site, as well as telephone surveillance. An area within 3 kilometers of Suncheon Bay has been designated as a special management zone, restricting access for people and vehicles. Over the next week, comprehensive disinfection will be conducted at all poultry farms and related facilities nationwide.
The Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment has urged the public to refrain from visiting migratory bird habitats such as rivers, reservoirs, and tidal flats. If visits are unavoidable, individuals should avoid contact with wild birds, ensure thorough disinfection of shoes and vehicles, and wash hands upon returning home, while also avoiding entry into poultry farms.
If anyone discovers dead wild birds or birds exhibiting abnormal behavior, they should not touch or move them but report the findings to the relevant local government or the National Wildlife Disease Control Center. Poultry farms should immediately report any signs of increased mortality or decreased egg production to quarantine authorities.
Lee Chae-eun, director of the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment's Nature Conservation Bureau, stated, "The most effective way to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic AI is to detect risks early and respond swiftly. We will closely monitor the migratory paths of wild birds and the occurrence of the virus, while enhancing on-site response capabilities in cooperation with relevant agencies."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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