#18,977
South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture (MAFRA) has been dealing with HPAI H5 for more than 20 years, and while farmers compensated for their losses - in return - they are expected to strictly follow containment and biosecurity procedures.Last January MAFRA issued a scathing report finding that of the 15 poultry farms investigated since October 2024, the vast majority have failed to comply with those procedures, and warned that strong punitive action would be taken.In early September South Korea's CDC Announced A 19-day, Nationwide, Mock-Training Exercise to Prepare for Zoonotic Influenza, and South Korea's Ministry of Environment issued a new statement on mandatory steps to increase the safety of personnel dealing directly with avian influenza, and to ensure a more coordinated and efficient quarantine response.
Last month, South Korea's MAFRA Ordered Strengthened Quarantine Measures After 3 HPAI H5 Subtypes (H5N1, H5N6, H5N9) Detected In Wild Birds, and once again warned of harsh punitive measures (fines, and possible incarceration) for biosecurity lapses.
Today MAFRA has published an investigation that once again finds serious lapses in biosecurity on recently infected poultry farms; including failures to disinfect vehicles, and allowing people to enter farms and barns without protective clothing.
This growing diversity of HPAI H5 viruses in wild birds is not a trivial concern, particularly given the events of last month here in the U.S., when the first known human infection with HPAI H5N5 was reported in Washington State.
I've posted a machine translation of the South Korean announcement below.
2025.12.08 15:51:35 Avian Influenza Prevention Division, Quarantine Policy Bureau
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza ( Director Song Mei-ryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs , hereinafter referred to as the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters ) announced that as a result of the epidemiological investigation conducted so far on poultry farms where highly pathogenic avian influenza occurred this winter , numerous quarantine deficiencies were identified, and as the risk has increased with the increase in the occurrence of highly pathogenic avian influenza worldwide , quarantine management has been strengthened to prevent further outbreaks .
1. Interim results of the outbreak situation and epidemiological investigation
Since the first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a native chicken farm in Paju , Gyeonggi Province on Friday , September 12 , there have been 7 cases in domestic poultry farms and 13 cases in wild birds
The seven poultry farms identified to date with outbreaks have been found to be non-compliant with basic quarantine guidelines, as determined by interim epidemiological investigations . Accordingly, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters plans to impose administrative sanctions, including fines, and reduce culling compensation , in accordance with the Livestock Infectious Disease Prevention Act, on farms found to be violating relevant regulations .
* According to the “ Standards for Payment and Reduction of Compensation in Appendix 2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Livestock Infectious Disease Prevention Act ,” the basic amount equivalent to 20/100 of the livestock appraisal value is reduced , and if any insufficient quarantine measures are identified, the compensation is additionally reduced for each applicable item.
Domestic and international risk analysis
Looking at the status of overseas highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks in poultry farms, the number of outbreaks this year ( '25) has increased by about twice compared to the same period (January to November ) of the previous year ('24) . In particular , the number of outbreaks in Europe and the United States has been increasing since September , and neighboring Japan has had six outbreaks so far this winter .
In Korea, three serotypes (H5N1, H5N6, H5N9) were detected for the first time in wild birds , and in poultry farms, two serotypes ( H5N1, H5N6) were confirmed this time, the same as in the winter season of 2023-2024 .
* On November 12, H5 antigen was detected at a duck farm in Buan, North Jeolla Province , but the final virus was not isolated . During a detailed inspection of a duck farm that was culled as a precaution within the quarantine area (3 km), H5N6 highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed.
* For reference , 32 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza occurred in the winter of 2023/2024 , with two serotypes (H5N1, H5N6) confirmed.
Considering these domestic and international situations , this is a serious situation where highly pathogenic avian influenza can occur anywhere in the country, so it is necessary to strengthen quarantine measures at each farm and promptly report to quarantine authorities when suspicious symptoms are present .
3. Requests
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' Director of Quarantine Policy, Dong-sik Lee, stated , " As a result of the epidemiological investigation into poultry farms where highly pathogenic avian influenza occurred this winter , it was confirmed that most farms were not properly following basic quarantine rules .
Accordingly, the local governments in question should strictly punish them according to relevant regulations and provide guidance and education so that poultry farms can be vigilant and make every effort to prevent quarantine on their farms . "
In addition , “ Looking at past outbreaks, highly pathogenic avian influenza occurs the most in December and January , so poultry farms are at a high risk of additional outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza. Therefore, they should thoroughly follow basic quarantine rules such as disinfection, changing boots , and prohibiting egg vehicles from entering farms with the mindset of ‘ I protect my own farm . ’” he emphasized .
* 47.6% occurred in December - January (654 cases out of 1,374 cases since 2003)
Although most commercial poultry operations should already know and understand their obligations to maintain strict biosecurity due to avian influenza, there are more than 11 million backyard poultry flocks in the United States alone, and tens of millions more in Europe and Asia.
So far, more than 100 backyard flocks have been infected since September of this year in the United States, and we've seen at least one death `linked to contact with backyard or wild birds'.
While the CDC has released guidelines (see Backyard Flock Owners: Protect Yourself from Bird Flu) - it is unknown how many backyard poultry owners have actually read it - or would bother to follow their - at times - stringent recommendations.
Last October, in UF/IFAS Extension: What Backyard Flock Owners Need to Know about Bird Flu (Influenza H5N1), we looked at two less daunting H5N1 related publications; one for backyard poultry owners, and another for consumers of poultry products and milk.
A few short years ago - at least here in the United States - the biggest health concern from raising backyard poultry was salmonella. Today, we've must contend with at least two different HPAI viruses (H5N1, H5N5) capable of infecting humans, and it is possible more are on the way.
While I dislike the phrase `the new normal', as long as HPAI H5 continues to circulate at high levels, this our new shared reality.
And we must either get better at combating it, or get used to living with it.
