South Korea tightens winter livestock disease defenses

[Commonground]

PUBLISHED September 16, 2026 - 2:28 p.m. MODIFIED September 16, 2026 - 2:35 p.m.
The government will expand quarantine measures as overseas bird flu cases surge and new animal disease risks emerge nearby.

Excerpt:
...To guard against bird flu, the government will introduce an early-warning system for migratory birds starting in September. The ministry will alert farms when signs of increased risk emerge, such as a rise in migratory bird populations near farms, allowing them to take preventive measures. Disinfection trucks and drones will also be deployed around migratory bird habitats, while 280 control zones will be designated to restrict livestock vehicles...

...“There may be limits to quarantine because of the emergence of new virus types, external factors like migratory birds and wild boars, and the government's limited quarantine personnel and resources,” Lee Dong-sik, director of the Agriculture Ministry's Animal Health Control Policy Bureau, said. “We ask the public to refrain from visiting migratory bird habitats and livestock farms before and after the Chuseok holiday, and to follow basic quarantine rules like disinfection.”

Korea tightens winter livestock disease defenses

The government will expand quarantine measures as overseas bird flu cases surge and new animal disease risks emerge nearby.

www.koreajoongangdaily.com

 

[Commonground]

Bird Flu in Wild Birds Jumps 97% Worldwide, Gyeongsang Curbs Traffic​

2026.09.21​

CHANGWON — Highly pathogenic avian influenza was detected in wild birds worldwide 2,821 times this year, up 97% from the same period a year earlier. South Gyeongsang Province has concluded that the risk of the virus entering the country is higher than in previous years and will restrict livestock vehicle access to migratory bird habitats in the province starting in October.

The province said on the 21st that it will control access by poultry-related livestock vehicles at 10 major migratory bird sites and 14 checkpoints in the province for five months, from Oct. 1 through the end of February next year. Vehicles carrying feed, manure, eggs, rice hulls and live animals are covered.

The restricted areas include major migratory bird habitats such as Junam Reservoir in Changwon, Upo Wetland in Changnyeong, Sacheon Bay and Hwapocheon Stream in Gimhae, as well as areas of concern such as Sannaecheon Stream in Hapcheon, where the virus was detected last year.
-snip-
Jeong Chang-geun, head of the province's animal disease control division, warned of the global spread of the H5N1 strain and urged farms to refrain from visiting migratory bird habitats and to repair barrier facilities such as nets and deterrent devices.

Bird Flu in Wild Birds Jumps 97% Worldwide, Gyeongsang Curbs Traffic

South Gyeongsang Province will restrict livestock vehicles at 10 migratory bird sites from October as global bird flu cases in wild birds jump 97%.

en.sedaily.com