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Authorities disinfect a truck entering a poultry farm in Paju, just north of Seoul, on January 27, 2021, where bird flu cases have been reported. (Yonhap) |
The country plans to destroy the same type of poultry within a 1-kilometer radius of infectious farms for the next two weeks, when bird flu cases are reported, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agriculture. Rural Affairs.
The country has so far brought 26 million chickens under its policy of destroying all birds within a 3-km radius of infectious farms.
The ministry said instead that it will perform virus tests on all chickens within a 3-km radius of affected farms.
Local farmers have complained about the authorities’ policy of thinning all birds, saying the measures caused too much rise in chicken commodity prices, which only ended up benefiting importers -change.
The horrific H5N8 species of bird flu has wreaked havoc on local chicken farms across the country since November last year. Authorities have identified 95 cases of bird flu at local poultry farms.
The ministry said it would continue to implement strengthened measures to prevent the spread of bird flu.
To intensify quarantine efforts, the country is disinfecting areas around affected farms and accessing paths every day, according to the ministry.
Egg prices here have jumped about 28 per cent so far this year amid a shortage of supply caused by bird flu.
To stabilize rising egg prices, the government plans to introduce 24 million new eggs by the end of this month. Large food processing companies will be allowed to import 1,180 tonnes of egg products by June.
The country lifted tariffs for egg products imported on January 28 in an effort to reduce supply shortages. (Yonhap)