South Korea To Move To Year-Round AI Prevention

  
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If there's a non-hurricane blog theme this week, its the growing realization around the world that avian influenza has changed from being a predominantly seasonal threat, to a year-round concern.

We've seen dozens of H5N8 outbreaks across Europe this summer (see Italy: IZSV Reports 20th H5N8 Poultry Outbreak Of The Summer) which led to the UK's: DEFRA Warning Of `Constant Risk' From Avian Flu last Friday.

H7N9  persisted well into summer in China, while H5N8 has taken up residence in the southern hemisphere for the first time (see South Africa : 4 More H5N8 Poultry Outbreaks, 7 In Wild Birds).

While not on par with the level of bird flu activity often seen during the winter, the expected `summer lull'  in bird flu outbreaks has been far less apparent than in years past. 

South Korea, which has been battling avian influenza (AI) for more than a dozen years, has been hit particularly hard since 2014, first with H5N8, and then last year with both H5N8 and H5N6.  

Today, KBS News in South Korea is reporting:

S. Korea to Implement Year-Round Quarantine against AI

Write : 2017-09-07 18:31:31 Update : 2017-09-07 18:46:21

The Agriculture Ministry says it will implement a year-round quarantine system to respond to a rise in avian influenza outbreaks in the country.

The ministry announced on Thursday that closed-circuit television cameras(CCTVs) will be installed at large-sized poultry farms starting next year to better monitor conditions in real time.

Any facility that handles poultry, including farms, outdoor markets and restaurants, will also be subject to disinfection programs twice a year.

Additionally, the ministry said it will impose a ban on the transaction of live poultry by the year 2022 as part of preemptive efforts to curb the spread of bird flu epidemics.

Part of this push is likely due to the 2018 Winter Olympcs Games (Feb 9th-25th), which will be held in Pyeongchang County, South Korea. Given the geopolitical climate, one could argue that AI isn't the biggest threat to this winter's games, but it probably appears somewhere near the top of the list. 

We've a somewhat kludgy translation of a statement from MAFRA (Ministry of Agriculture) that addresses in greater detail some of the issues, and addresses this winter's Olympic Games.

Transition to Avian Influenza (AI) Preventive Central Dispatch System 

Registration date 2017-09-07 16:00:00

The government 2017.9.7. (Thu) held by the Prime Minister of the Joint Administration meeting, the Association of the Affairs of the Department of affairs, "bird Flu (AI) prevention measures", and decided to implement a special pest to hold the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February next year.

Accordingly, the Government decided to prepare for the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in February next year until the end of September, gujeyeog the gold-related facilities and completed the vaccine vaccination, and proactively administered AI and GUJEYEOG 

Special Hygiene in October.

* GUJEYEOG is conducting a Japanese vaccination against cows and goats in September, and will be promoted to special quarantine from October

In particular, the AI is a trend that occurs every year, regardless of the season, since the first of the ' 03 years ' in 14 years.

Each year, migratory birds and domestic and international immigration increases the likelihood of AI influx, while poultry farms are concentrated on the West coast, which is a migratory migration path, and the facilities are poor and are vulnerable to AI blocking.

Some experts in animal conservation organizations have raised the possibility of the AI's domestic indigenous peoples, claiming vaccinations.

At this, the government has provided "AI Pest prevention measures" to create a free poultry industry from AI to determine that there is a limit to the inherent blocking of AI generation without the elimination of unusual breeding environment improvement and room history.

For the successful holding of the Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games in February, we decided to promote a special offer for AI-based on October, until February next year.

I.) (until the end of September) complete inspection and AI inspection system construction

To check for more than once per month, by specifying a dedicated staff (584)

A full-scale scattering of chicken duck (2,498) is a daily wired check and one-on-site check-up through the Nong Sigpumbu host (443 people)

Pre-training for agricultural cognitive and self-hygiene personnel, and the self-supporting Oriental (4,000 people) and the war training conducted (more than once per year)

The poultry handling is a daily inspection conducted in the pre-shipment inspection and the slaughter of the cattle dealer.

II) (October ~ February) for the successful host of Pyeongchang Olympic Winter Games, whether or not AI is occurring, the hygiene is performed according to the "severity" phase

I installed the COSO disinfection facility in the main base to maintain a 24-hour emergency system, including the installation of the AI hygiene countermeasures headquarters Situation Room in the former municipalities

Strengthening of farm protection, minimizing farm access, and restrictions imposed on agricultural farmers

         (Continue . . . .)


I've run this statement through three translators, and each produces a slightly different, albeit equally confusing, translation.  Hopefully we'll get some additional clarification from the South Korean press.