South Korea reports H5N1 avian influenza in a poultry farm, 1st case of the season

To date, no human infection has been reported

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) Director, Young-Mi Ji, dispatched field response personnel together with local governments to a poultry farm located in Donghae-si, Gangwon-do, where culling was implemented after detection of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus on October 30.

Since the detection of HPAI in wild bird feces collected from the Mangyeong River in Gunsan, Jeollabuk-do on October 2, this is the first time that H5N1 avian influenza has been confirmed in a poultry farm this winter. To date, no human infection with AI has been reported in South Korea.

HPAI has been detected in wild birds in South Korea- 3 cases in total (October 2, Gunsan Mangyeong River, October 14, Yongin Cheongmicheon, October 17, Jeju Yongsuji).

Field response personnel are cooperating with local governments to ensure that high-risk groups, such as farm workers and culling participants, wear personal protective equipment and have been vaccinated against seasonal influenza, and are thoroughly following preventive measures to prevent human infection with avian influenza. At the same time, they are conducting epidemiological investigations, such as identifying symptomatic cases among workers at farms where cases occurred.

Farm workers and those involved in culling were asked to immediately report to the public health center if they develop ophthalmic symptoms such as conjunctivitis or respiratory symptoms such as fever, muscle pain, or cough within 10 days after culling. In particular, as the number of confirmed cases overseas has been increasing recently in cases with only mild ophthalmic symptoms and no respiratory symptoms, prompt reporting was emphasized when related symptoms appear.

The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency has revised its guidelines to reflect recent characteristics, such as new clinical patterns overseas of HPAI human infections, which are candidates for the next pandemic, and has strengthened the domestic preparedness and response system by closely cooperating with related ministries, such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, and the Quarantine Agency, to respond jointly. 

In addition, the "Avian Influenza Human Infection Response Team" will be operated from October 1, and local government antiviral drug stockpiling inspections and seasonal influenza vaccinations will be conducted for response personnel. 

WHO recommends seasonal influenza vaccination for high-risk groups for avian influenza human infection to prevent concurrent infection with seasonal influenza and avian influenza.

Director Young-Mi Ji, emphasized, “As cases of human infection with avian influenza continue to occur overseas, special care is needed, such as avoiding contact with suspected infected animals as much as possible and thoroughly wearing personal protective equipment when contacting them.” 

“We will maintain a close cooperative system with local governments to prevent and manage human infection in high-risk groups that have come into direct contact with poultry infected with avian influenza,” he said.