#19,051
South Korea is no stranger to dealing with outbreaks of Avian Influenza, African Swine Fever (ASF), and Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD), but this year their messaging and response have taken on a more urgent tone.
Even before the fall avian flu season began, last September South Korea Conducted A 19-day, Nationwide, Mock-Training Exercise to Prepare for Zoonotic Influenza, immediately followed by South Korea: MAFRA Conducts A Preemptive Virtual Quarantine Exercise (CPX).In November, South Korea MAFRA Ordered Strengthened Quarantine Measures After 3 HPAI H5 Subtypes (H5N1, H5N6, H5N9) Detected In Wild Birds, and issued stern warnings to farms over lapses in biosecurity South Korea: MAFRA Identifies Biosecurity Breaches On HPAI Infected Poultry Farms).
By the end of December, MAFRA Reported Increased Infectivity & Pathogenicity of This Year's Avian Flu Strains, and in early January announced Special Quarantine Measures Implemented for one Month to Prevent the Spread of HPAI,
By the end of January, however, MAFRA was also reporting an uptick in ASF outbreaks, and an outbreak of FMD; all just two weeks before the biggest holiday travel period for Asian countries (see South Korea: MAFRA Warns on Risks From HPAI, ASF & FMD During Upcoming Lunar New Year).
While we've seen worse avian flu outbreaks in South Korea in past years, and even concurrent outbreaks with ASF and FMD, this year's response continues to be unusually robust.
Last week, the South Korea CDC announced `Traveler Respiratory Disease Testing Service' Expanded to 13 Airports & Ports Nationwide and today South Korea's Quarantine Policy Bureau has announced an all-out effort to prevent the spread of livestock diseases during the Lunar New Year holiday.
The fact that they are making their Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCHQ) the hub of a 24‑hour, multi‑ministry system specifically through Seollal speaks to how seriously they view the current situation.Typically, Asia government agencies revert to a skeleton crew, and often `go dark', during the extended Lunar New Year Holiday period.
Due to its length, I've only posted some (translated) excerpts from today's announcement. I'll have a brief postscript after the break.
Joint government-wide response to livestock infectious diseases during the Lunar New Year holiday
2026.02.12 15:00:00 Quarantine Policy Bureau, Quarantine Policy Division
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (AI), African Swine Fever (ASF) , and Foot-and-Mouth Disease ( Headquarters: Minister of Agriculture , Food and Rural Affairs Song Mei-ryeong , hereinafter referred to as the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters ) will, in cooperation with relevant ministries such as the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment, and local governments, promote quarantine rules for livestock farms and the public in preparation for the Lunar New Year holiday, operate an emergency response system during the holiday period , and thoroughly inspect and implement quarantine management measures for livestock infectious diseases
Since the first outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on September 12th of last year, 43 cases have occurred in poultry farms . Recently, the wild bird population * and the number of AI detections ( 49 cases in total ) have also increased, so the risk of additional outbreaks in poultry farms remains high .
* AI outbreak status ( total 43 cases ): 9 cases in Gyeonggi , 18 cases in South and North Chungcheong , 11 cases in South and North Jeolla , 3 cases in South and North Gyeongsang , 1 in Sejong , 1 in Gwangju
** Status of wild bird population ( Ministry of Climate ): (December ) 1.25 million → ( January ) 1.35 million (8% increase )
In addition, in the case of African swine fever, since the first outbreak in Gangneung, Gangwon Province on January 16th of this year, sporadic outbreaks ( 11 cases in total ) have occurred in areas where there had been no outbreaks before, so thorough quarantine management is necessary to prevent the virus from entering farms .
* ASF outbreak status ( total 11 cases ): 4 cases in Gyeonggi , 1 in Gangwon , 2 in Chungcheongnam- do, 1 in Jeollabuk-do , 2 in Jeollanam-do , 1 in Gyeongsangnam -do
Foot-and - mouth disease broke out in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon on January 30 , about 10 months after it first appeared in Yeongam and Muan, South Jeolla Province, in March of last year . To prevent further spread, a temporary 48- hour movement ban was issued for Incheon and the neighboring Gimpo area, and emergency vaccinations (865 cases , 92 cases ) were quickly completed (February 6). Quarantine management such as disinfection and testing was strengthened, and there have been no additional outbreaks to date .
(SNIP)
□ Operation of a 24- hour response system centered on the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasure Headquarters , comprehensive disinfection , and public relations for livestock farms and the public
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters will maintain a 24-hour emergency response system even during the holiday period. In addition, in order to block the spread of the virus due to the increase in people and vehicles during the Lunar New Year holiday, February 13 (Friday) and February 19 ( Thursday ) before and after the holiday have been designated as “ National Disinfection Days ” and disinfection resources will be fully mobilized ( 1,023 disinfection vehicles ) to intensively disinfect livestock farms , livestock - related facilities , and livestock vehicles . In particular, for highly pathogenic avian influenza, disinfection of high-risk areas such as roads around migratory bird arrival sites will continue at least twice a day for two weeks from February 7 to February 20 , including the holiday period .
In addition, we will strengthen publicity by using various means such as text messages on quarantine rules, village broadcasts, posters and banners, electronic bulletin boards at railway stations and highways, broadcast subtitle exposure*, and websites in cooperation with local governments, public institutions, and producer groups. We will also strengthen publicity by informing livestock farmers of quarantine rules , asking people returning home to refrain from visiting livestock farms , prohibiting entry into migratory bird arrival areas and wild boar ASF outbreak areas , and prohibiting the bringing in of illegal livestock products when entering the country after traveling abroad .
* Disaster subtitle broadcasting (2.9.~2.18, 144 companies including KBS , twice a day ) , etc.
(SNIP)
□ Requests during the Lunar New Year holiday period
Park Jeong-hoon, director of the Food Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs , said , “ We plan to maintain the emergency response system centered around the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters even during the Lunar New Year holidays, ” and urged , “ Livestock farms across the country should immediately report any suspected symptoms of livestock infectious diseases to livestock quarantine authorities , and all livestock officials should also be careful to prevent safety accidents from occurring during quarantine activities due to the cold wave in winter . ” He continued , “ I ask farms to do their best to quarantine their farms during the holiday period , and I ask those returning home to actively participate in livestock quarantine, such as refraining from visiting livestock farms and migratory bird arrival sites, to prevent the spread of livestock infectious diseases . ”
He also added , “ Despite the outbreak of livestock infectious diseases such as highly pathogenic avian influenza and African swine fever , the supply conditions for livestock products such as eggs and pork during the Lunar New Year holiday are relatively stable , and we will closely monitor the supply and demand situation going forward . ”
* ( Egg ) Production : ('25) 49.53 million / day → ('26p) 4,925 ( 7.6% ↑ compared to the average year , 0.6% ↓ compared to the previous year ) Retail price : (1. Lower ) 6,928 won / 30 eggs → (2. Upper ) 6,107 ( 6.3% ↓ compared to the average year , 8.1% ↓ compared to the previous year )
* ( Pig ) Slaughter (January ) : ('25) 1.572 million → ('26) 1.589 million ( 0.4% ↑ compared to the average year , 1.1% ↑ compared to the previous year ) Retail price : (1. Lower ) 26,270 won /kg → (2. Upper ) 26,360 ( 12.2% ↑ compared to the average year , 4.4% ↑ compared to the previous year )
Hong Jong-wan, Director of the Social Disaster and Safety Bureau at the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, said, “ Compliance with the core quarantine rules for farms is essential for preventing livestock infectious diseases , and if these are violated, strict measures such as fines and reductions in compensation for culling will be taken .”
He added , “ Local governments, led by heads of sub-organizations, should make an all-out effort to prevent the spread of livestock infectious diseases , and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety will not spare administrative and financial support . ”
Lee Chae-eun, Director of the Nature Conservation Bureau at the Ministry of Climate Change, said , “ If you find a carcass of a wild bird or wild boar, please report it to your local government or the National Institute of Wildlife Disease Control and Prevention instead of contacting it directly . We ask local governments to prevent contamination from being left unattended or leaking from the affected farm and spreading it to the surrounding area . ” She added , “ We will do our best to maintain an emergency work system during the Lunar New Year holiday period in cooperation with relevant organizations to ensure that there are no quarantine gaps . ”
While one could argue that this heightened response is due to the triad of livestock disease threats in South Korea, we were seeing extraordinary measures being ordered last December, before the recent spike in ASF and FMD.
Regrettably, few countries are as open about their avian flu problem - and their response - as is South Korea. Which means we don't have a good handle on how the virus is spreading, and evolving, around the globe.
The fact, however, that South Korea - which has 20 years experience dealing with Avian flu - is this concerned, should give all of us pause.