Highly pathogenic bird flu confirmed at Ganghwa-gun egg farm — 4th case this winter

Highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed at an egg farm in Incheon's Ganghwa-gun, marking the fourth outbreak this winter — three of the four confirmed farms have been egg-laying operations. The government has issued a 24-hour movement ban on egg farms and livestock facilities across the Greater Seoul area and launched emergency inspections of large egg farms nationwide.

The Central Disaster Management Headquarters for Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza said Thursday that the H5N9 strain had been detected at the Ganghwa-gun egg farm, which raises about 48,000 chickens. The infection was identified during a routine surveillance test.

The confirmation brings the total number of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases at domestic poultry farms during the 2026–2027 winter season to four. The three earlier cases occurred at farms in Yeoncheon and Yeoju in Gyeonggi Province and in Jangheung in South Jeolla Province. Including the Ganghwa farm, three of the four affected sites are egg-laying operations.

The headquarters has deployed a rapid-response team to the Ganghwa farm to restrict access and is proceeding with culling and an epidemiological investigation. Precise testing will also be conducted at 28 poultry farms within a 10-kilometer quarantine zone around the outbreak site.

A 24-hour temporary movement ban has been issued for the Greater Seoul area, covering egg farms, related livestock facilities and livestock vehicles in Incheon, Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. The ban runs from 4 p.m. Thursday to 4 p.m. Friday.

The government is also tightening biosecurity management at egg farms. With three of the four cases this winter occurring at egg-laying operations, the measures are aimed at preventing further spread.

Forty joint inspection teams will be deployed to large egg farms nationwide — those raising 100,000 or more chickens — to check vehicle disinfection practices, biosecurity facility management and compliance with relevant regulations.

Access controls for vaccine teams visiting egg farms are also being strengthened. Entry by vaccine teams to egg farms in Gyeonggi Province and South Chungcheong Province has been restricted from 9 a.m. Nov. 7 to 9 a.m. Nov. 14. Starting Monday, vaccine teams will be required to leave at least one full day between farm visits.

Biosecurity management at 27 integrated poultry businesses will be inspected through Monday. Intensive disinfection of high-risk areas — including access roads to poultry farms, migratory bird habitats and riverbanks — will continue through Tuesday. Disinfection of farm access roads will be increased from once to at least twice daily.

The egg collection process at egg farms will also come under scrutiny. The government plans to inspect the operation of egg transfer stations and livestock vehicle access management at egg farms nationwide through Monday and will use vehicle GPS data to monitor movement routes.

Lee Dong-sik, director general of the biosecurity policy bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said the situation was serious, with highly pathogenic avian influenza continuing to emerge at egg farms and the risk of further spread a growing concern. "Relevant agencies and local governments should strengthen precise testing and biosecurity inspections at egg farms, and ensure that movement restrictions and temporary movement bans are thoroughly enforced," Lee said.

Meanwhile, Japan has also recorded its first highly pathogenic avian influenza case this autumn, with about 200,000 chickens being culled at a poultry farm in Kameoka, Kyoto Prefecture, and movement restrictions imposed on surrounding areas.