#19,079
Despite more than 2 decades of dealing with extensive bird flu outbreaks, and numerous warnings to farmers (see here, here, here) on the importance of maintaining strict biosecurity, once again this winter South Korea finds itself struggling to contain HPAI H5.
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).Even before this year's avian flu season began, 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 early January MAFRA described this year's avian flu season as particularly challenging (see below) and announced Special Quarantine Measures Implemented for one Month to Prevent the Spread of HPAI (now extended to March 31st):
This winter season, for the first time in Korea , three types of viruses ( serotypes : H5N1, H5N6, H5N9) were detected in wild birds and poultry farms, and in particular, the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus ( serotype H5N1) confirmed in Korea this winter season was confirmed to be more than 10 times more infectious than in previous years, making the situation very serious with a higher risk of additional outbreaks than ever before .
Today MAFRA has released an eye opening report on their investigation into the biosecurity practices found on 50 of this year's 53 infected poultry farms, which reports 70% of these farms had at least one serious violation.
- 70%: No disinfection or protective clothing for people entering farms
- 68%: Vehicles entering/exiting farms not disinfected
- 66%: Poor overall sanitation management
- 62%: Workers not using farm-specific clothing/footwear
- 48%: Inadequate barriers to prevent entry of wild animals
Although it is a fairly lengthy report, I've posted the full translation below. I'll have a brief postscript after the break.
2026.03.09 13:05:00 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 the epidemiological investigation conducted so far on poultry farms where highly pathogenic avian influenza occurred this winter has revealed numerous inadequate quarantine measures , and that quarantine management has been strengthened to prevent further outbreaks due to the risk of the outbreak due to the full-scale northward migration of winter migratory birds .
1. Analysis of the situation
This ('25/'26 season ) , 53 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza have occurred in poultry farms and 62 cases in wild birds as of March 9th .
* Poultry farm occurrence status ( total 53 cases ): 13 cases in Gyeonggi , 9 in North Chungcheong , 9 in South Chungcheong , 4 in North Jeolla , 10 in South Jeolla , 5 in North Gyeongsang , 1 in South Gyeongsang , 1 in Gwangju , 1 in Sejong
** Status of wild bird detection ( total 62 cases ): Gyeonggi 6 , Gangwon 8, Chungbuk 1, Chungnam 14, Jeollabuk-do 6, Jeollanam-do 7 , Gyeongbuk 3, Gyeongnam 5, Jeju 4, Seoul 4, Busan 2, Incheon 1, Gwangju 1
This winter, for the first time in Korea, three types of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses ( serotypes : H5N1, H5N6, H5N9) were detected in wild birds and poultry farms . The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency evaluated the infectivity and pathogenicity of the domestic poultry virus (H5N1) and found that the infectivity was more than 10 times higher than in previous years. As the disease can easily spread even with a small amount of virus, more thorough quarantine management such as disinfection and access control is needed than ever before .
According to the results of the February migratory bird population survey, there are a large number of birds, 1.33 million, and highly pathogenic avian influenza has been continuously occurring in poultry farms and wild birds recently . Considering the cases of outbreaks during the migratory bird migration period since March, there is a risk of additional outbreaks. Therefore , poultry farms should strengthen their own quarantine and disinfection , and if they have any suspicious symptoms , they should quickly report them to quarantine authorities .
* Farm (53 cases ): (September ) 1 case → (October ) 1 case → (November ) 4 cases → (December ) 22 cases → ( January ) 10 cases → (February ) 13 cases → ( March ) 2 cases
Migratory birds (62 cases ): (September ) 0 cases → (October ) 2 cases → (November ) 11 cases → ( December ) 10 cases → (January ) 19 cases → (February ) 20 cases → ( March ) 0 cases
2. Results of interim epidemiological investigation and quarantine inspection of the outbreak farm
< Results of epidemiological investigation of the outbreak farm >
Interim epidemiological investigations of the 50 confirmed outbreak farms to date have revealed that many farms are not complying with basic quarantine guidelines . Accordingly, the Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters plans to strictly enforce administrative sanctions, such as fines, and reductions in compensation for livestock disposal, in accordance with the Livestock Infectious Disease Prevention Act, against farms that violate 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 farm where the disease occurred will basically receive a reduction of 20 % of the livestock evaluation price , and if any insufficient quarantine measures are found, the compensation will be reduced for each applicable item.
During the special quarantine period for highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) (October 1, 2025 - February 13, 2026) , the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency mobilized its on-site inspection team ( 40 people in 20 teams ) to inspect the quarantine management compliance of poultry farms. As a result , a total of 59 farms were found to have violated the quarantine management and were issued certificates . Of these , 43 (72.9%) were laying hen farms, accounting for more than two -thirds .
* 59 farms in violation : 43 laying hens , 4 broilers , 3 each of meat ducks and broiler breeders , 2 laying breeders , 1 each of breeders , native chickens , hatcheries , and livestock vehicles
In the case of the laying hen farm with the most violations ( No. 43 ) , the number of violations was 57 , and 24 cases * (42.1%) of them were found to be violations of the “ Administrative Orders and Notices, ” which are the entry control and quarantine standards for poultry farms that must be followed during the special quarantine period . Among them , the violation of “ Failure to perform Stage 2 disinfection of vehicles entering and exiting the farm ” (13 cases ) was confirmed as the most common .
* 13 cases of failure to implement two- stage disinfection (1st stage disinfection with vehicle disinfection machine → 2nd stage disinfection of vehicle wheels, etc. with high-pressure sprayer ) upon entry of livestock vehicles into farms, 10 cases of violation of prohibition of entry into farms by egg transport vehicles , vaccination team vehicles , and poultry loading/unloading crew personnel transport vehicles , etc.
3. Strengthening quarantine measures
The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters will strengthen quarantine measures as follows to prevent further outbreaks due to migratory birds moving north .
First , in order to prevent further outbreaks in laying hens across the country, one-on-one dedicated officers will be assigned to laying hens with more than 50,000 hens nationwide by March to manage vehicles and people entering and exiting the farms . In particular, control posts installed at densely populated poultry farms and large laying hens with more than 200,000 hens will be intensively inspected to ensure compliance with quarantine measures, such as disinfection of vehicles entering the farms .
Second , the Ministry of Agriculture , Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Public Administration and Security , and provincial/ provincial governments will jointly inspect the quarantine situation in 32 cities and counties at risk during the migratory bird migration season (until March 17) and manage any deficiencies by supplementing them .
* ( Gyeonggi area ) 7 including Anseong , Hwaseong , Pyeongtaek , and Pocheon , ( Chungcheong area ) 8 including Eumseong , Asan , Cheonan , and Sejong , ( Jeolla area ) 12 including Gimje , Iksan , Naju , and Muan , ( Gyeongsang area ) 5 including Uiseong , Bonghwa , and Changnyeong
Third , to eliminate viruses during the risk period, the period from March 5 to March 14 will be designated as “ National Disinfection Week ,” and disinfection will be carried out at least twice a day on farms , livestock facilities , vehicles, etc.
Fourth , in cooperation with producer groups, etc., we will promote and guide the ' Quarantine Management Reinforcement Campaign * ' targeting poultry farms for one month in March so that quarantine rules can be thoroughly implemented on site .
* Key initiatives : ① Change your boots when entering and exiting the barn , ② Clean and disinfect , ③ Work on the old books
4. Requests
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs' Director of Quarantine Policy, Dong-sik Lee , said, " 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, such as not disinfecting or wearing quarantine clothing ." He requested , " The relevant local governments should take strict measures in accordance with relevant regulations and repeatedly provide guidance and education so that poultry farms can be vigilant and make every effort to manage quarantine at the farm level . "
In addition , he emphasized again that “ the current situation is very critical as highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is continuously being detected in wild birds, ” and that “ poultry farms should thoroughly follow basic quarantine rules such as two- stage disinfection of vehicles entering the farm and changing boots with the mindset of ‘ I protect my own farm ’ to prevent further outbreaks . ”
Although South Korea's bird flu problem may have already peaked for the season, it is not unusual to see sporadic outbreaks extend into May or even June. It doesn't help that South Korea is also dealing with concurrent outbreaks of ASF and FMD.
Repeated assertions that this year's avian flu is `10 times more infectious' are worrisome, but difficult to quantify. Multiple outbreaks of H5N9 (see South Korea: H5N9 Rising) are more tangible, and equally concerning.
While it appears that some (perhaps, much) of South Korea's current avian flu woes can be attributed to lapses in farm biosecurity, it is possible they are also dealing with a more challenging wave of HPAI.
If that turns out to be true, then the rest of the world could find themselves facing similar challenges next fall.
