A highly pathogenic strain of the bird flu virus was discovered at a migratory bird habitat in Jeju, but all tests at poultry farms have so far come back negative. The incubation period for the virus ends Thursday. Minhoe Kim reports.



Report

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Handong-ri, Gujwa-eup, Jeju City

Approaching cars are disinfected with a spray to counter the spread of avian influenza. Trucks, especially those headed for livestock farms, receive intensive disinfections with a high-pressure hose.

Provincial officials have been working through their emergency plan at disinfection facilities and checkpoints island-wide ever since the existence of the highly pathogenic virus was confirmed on the island.

INTERVIEW
Yun Chang-wan / Dir., Provincial dept. of food and agriculture
We operate 14 checkpoints around the island’s 4 migratory bird habitats, and we run six disinfection facilities on major roads. We have increased disease prevention efforts at local ports and airports to the same level as at national borders.
<인터뷰 : 윤창완 / 제주특별자치도 농축산식품국장>
“도내 철새도래지 4개소에 대해 14개 초소를 설치해서 운영하고 있고, 주요도로변에 6개의 거점소독시설도 운영하고 있습니다. 항구와 공항에 대해서는 국경수준에 준하는 방역을 실시하고 있고….”

Military vehicles have been brought to major roads to join the fight against the virus.

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Hunting areas closed

Additionally, Olle trails near migratory bird habitats have been closed, as have hunting areas - since midnight on the 12th of January.

The prevention work centres around keeping the AI virus, which is found in bird excrement, from spreading to local chicken and duck farms.

January 19th is the date when the incubation period of the virus ends, and so all eyes will be on test results.

If there are no AI symptoms reported on the 19th, the island authorities and farmers will undoubtedly be relieved.

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If bird flu found at farm, all poultry within 3 km will be slaughtered

However, if there is a confirmed outbreak of avian influenza on a farm, all poultry within a 3 kilometer radius will be slaughtered and buried.

Despite several reports that the virus has been found on the island, Jeju has maintained that every farm remains infection-free.

Sync
Won Heeryong / Jeju governor
The province is making every effort to ban poultry shipments to the island and preventing the virus from spreading to local farms. We will keep the island free from the disease.
<싱크 : 원희룡 / 제주도특별자치도지사>
“육지부의 고기 반입, 철새에서 발견된 바이러스의 전파를 막는 것은 총력을 다해서 하고 있고, 최종 사육농가 발생은 지금까지 한 번도 없었기 때문에 청정제주의 전통을 이번에도 지키기 위해서 (최선을 다하겠습니다.)

[Reporter] Minhoe Kim
[Camera] Ko Moon-su

Authorities are requesting that the general public visit neither chicken or duck farms nor migratory bird habitats, and are asking for immediate reports should a farmer find signs of avian influenza on their farm.

Minhoe Kim, KCTV