South Korea’s Central Accident Management Headquarters (CAMH), led by the Minister of Agriculture, has announced the confirmation of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1) at an egg farm in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province. The outbreak was detected following increased chicken mortality reported on February 16, 2026, and confirmed through precision testing the next day. This marks the first avian influenza case in Pocheon in five years and brings the total number of cases in the 2025/26 winter season to 44. The policy aims to prevent further spread and protect the nation’s poultry industry.
The outbreak affects approximately 380,000 chickens at the Pocheon egg farm and has implications for poultry producers across South Korea. In February alone, six cases have been reported in five provinces, including Chungnam, Gyeongbuk, Gyeongnam, Sejong, and Gyeonggi. The CAMH has convened emergency meetings with local governments and relevant agencies to coordinate response efforts. Nationwide, poultry farms, especially those with more than 50,000 laying hens, are subject to enhanced surveillance and control measures.
Immediate actions include deploying rapid response teams, restricting farm access, and culling affected birds according to the Avian Influenza Emergency Action Guidelines (SOP). A 24-hour standstill order was issued for egg farms and related facilities in Pocheon and neighboring counties from February 17 to 18. Additional measures involve assigning dedicated supervisors to all farms within a 10km radius, conducting environmental inspections, and extending the national intensive disinfection period until February 28. Targeted testing is underway for eight affiliated farms, and strict controls are applied to vehicles and personnel entering large-scale and densely clustered farms.
Frequently asked questions include: What is being done to prevent further outbreaks? Authorities are enforcing strict access controls, ongoing disinfection, and environmental testing at high-risk sites. How are local governments involved? Regional officials are tasked with operating control posts, conducting inspections, and ensuring compliance with biosecurity protocols. What should poultry farmers do? Farmers must monitor livestock health, report unusual mortality, and adhere to all movement and disinfection requirements. The CAMH emphasizes that thorough implementation of these measures is crucial to containing the outbreak and safeguarding public and animal health.
Metaqsol opinion: South Korea’s rapid and comprehensive response to the avian influenza outbreak in Pocheon is grounded in established disease control protocols. The deployment of emergency teams, standstill orders, and enhanced supervision for high-risk farms are effective strategies for containment. Extending the national disinfection period and conducting environmental inspections further demonstrates the government’s commitment to preventing additional cases. Coordination between central and local authorities, along with strict compliance by poultry producers, is crucial for successful outbreak management.