The High Pathogenic Avian Influenza Central Accident Response Headquarters (headed by Minister Song Mi-ryeong of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) announced strengthened control measures after confirming an H5N9 avian influenza outbreak at a large egg-laying chicken farm in Yesan, Chungnam. The outbreak was reported on February 5, 2024, following increased chicken mortality and subsequent laboratory testing. This case marks the 39th highly pathogenic avian influenza incident in the 2025/2026 winter season, and the 18th among egg-laying farms. The risk of further outbreaks remains high due to rising wild bird populations and continued detection of the virus in wild birds.
The outbreak impacts poultry farmers, local governments, and related agencies across South Korea. Specifically, 653,000 chickens at the affected Yesan farm are subject to emergency culling and strict movement controls. Nationwide, 39 poultry farm outbreaks have been recorded, with additional cases detected in wild birds across 43 locations. Farms with over 200,000 egg-laying chickens—totaling 75 nationwide—are prioritized for special inspections, while all poultry farms within a 10km radius of the outbreak undergo detailed testing.
Implementation of control measures began immediately after the outbreak confirmation on February 5, 2024. Emergency response teams were deployed to restrict farm access and conduct epidemiological investigations. A 24-hour standstill order was issued for related farms, facilities, and vehicles in Chungnam and Gyeonggi provinces from February 5 to 6. Intensive disinfection campaigns, special inspections, and farm management protocols are scheduled through February 20, including joint agency checks and expanded educational outreach for farm workers.
Frequently asked questions include: What actions are required for poultry farms? Farms must enforce strict access controls, conduct regular disinfection, and comply with emergency culling and inspection orders. How are authorities supporting compliance? The government provides dedicated biosecurity officers, distributes multilingual guidelines, and conducts online training for all farm workers, including foreign laborers. What is the timeline for enhanced measures? Special inspections and disinfection campaigns run from February 6 to February 20, with ongoing monitoring and enforcement.
Metaqsol opinion: South Korea’s rapid escalation of avian influenza control measures reflects a strong commitment to safeguarding its poultry industry and public health. The focus on large-scale farms, comprehensive inspections, and multilingual education ensures broad compliance and risk mitigation. The integration of emergency culling, movement restrictions, and targeted disinfection is well-aligned with international best practices. Ongoing monitoring and adaptive management will be crucial as the risk of further outbreaks remains elevated due to wild bird migration and persistent virus circulation.