Farm ministry expands poultry culling in avian influenza-hit South Jeolla Province

A quarantine vehicle disinfects areas in Hampyeong in South Jeolla Province, Dec. 5, after a highly pathogenic strain of H5N1 of avian influenza was found. Yonhap

The agriculture ministry said Sunday it has expanded the scope of poultry culling at farms infected with a highly pathogenic avian influenza in some areas of South Jeolla Province.

The move came as a total of 19 cases have been reported in the province since Nov. 16, when a highly pathogenic avian influenza was found at a duck farm in Jangheung, 394 kilometers southwest of Seoul.

The ministry said the poultry culling has been expanded to 2 kilometers from the current 500 meters from an avian influenza-hit farm in Muan and Hampyeong in the province.

Earlier in the day, Agriculture Minister Chung Hwang-keun visited a disinfection center in the province to inspect quarantine measures, the ministry said. (Yonhap)