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SEOUL – South Korea has reported its 14th case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) this season, detected at a poultry farm in Hwaseong, south of Seoul, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs.
The affected farm, which houses 202 chickens and 67 wild geese, has been quarantined, and authorities have culled the infected birds to prevent further spread. Officials have restricted access to the site and initiated thorough investigations into the outbreak.
The Gyeonggi provincial government has announced plans to inspect 18 poultry farms in Gimpo, 38 kilometers west of Seoul, by Tuesday to identify any additional cases. This follows last week’s confirmation of HPAI at a duck farm in Buan, North Jeolla Province, approximately 190 kilometers south of Seoul.
The latest outbreak highlights the continued risks posed by bird flu to South Korea’s poultry industry. Authorities are ramping up biosecurity measures to contain the spread of the virus during the high-risk winter season.
California Declares Emergency Amid Avian Influenza Outbreak
Meanwhile, across the Pacific, California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency due to an outbreak of Avian Influenza A (H5N1), also known as bird flu. The virus has infected 34 people in the state, primarily those exposed to infected dairy cattle in Southern California.
Governor Newsom’s office emphasized the importance of expanding monitoring efforts and enhancing the statewide response to contain the virus. To date, no human-to-human transmission has been reported in California, and nearly all cases stem from direct exposure to infected animals.
Avian influenza was first identified in wild birds in the U.S. in South Carolina in January 2022, later spreading to California in July of the same year. The emergency declaration underscores the growing need for vigilance as the virus continues to affect both wildlife and agricultural operations globally.
The outbreaks in South Korea and California are a stark reminder of the challenges posed by avian influenza, with health authorities on both sides of the Pacific working to curb the spread and protect public health.
