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Highly pathogenic avian influenza with high contagiousness and high mortality rate is spreading rapidly across the country.
There have also been confirmed cases for three consecutive days in the metropolitan area, where egg farms are concentrated, and there are fears that egg prices could rise if the extent of the damage increases.
Reporter Gong Yun-sun told the story.
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People in protective suits are checking the entrance to the farm.
Only trucks carrying discarded eggs come and go.
A special quarantine vehicle carefully sprays disinfectant on the surrounding roads and rice fields.
This is because highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed in this farm two days ago.
About 23,900 farmed chickens were immediately culled.
This is the second time highly pathogenic avian influenza has been confirmed on poultry farms in the metro area this fall.
Chickens at a farm in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do were also confirmed last night.
Only in Gyeonggi-do have confirmed farms appeared for three consecutive days.
The countrywide spread is also unusual.
Since it was first confirmed on Oct. 19 at a duck farm in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk, it has reached 18 cases nationwide, including 9 cases in Chungbuk, 2 cases in Gyeongbuk and 3 cases in Gyeonggi.
There were 8 cases around this time last year and there were no cases the year before, but the spread is more than twice as fast this time around.
Migratory birds carrying the virus arrive earlier and more frequently than in previous years and poor quarantine on some farms is also becoming a problem.
[홍기성/농림축산식품부 조류인플루엔자방역과장]
“Compared to last year, the number of migratory birds has increased by more than 17% and the number of arrivals has been confirmed. Considering that numerous violations of the quarantine for outbreak farms have been confirmed, it seems that the awareness of the farmers has decreased.”
In particular, if it spread to farms that produce edible eggs, the already high price of eggs could rise again.
Currently, the average consumer price for a 30-egg box is 6,638 won, more than 10 percent higher than a year ago.
The government has stressed the need to respond with all efforts to quarantine, saying it is not yet at the point of affecting egg supply and demand, but next month, when migratory birds enter in earnest, it could be a critical moment.
This is MBC News Gong Yoon-seon.
Video coverage: So Jeong-seop
Video editing: Daye Ryu
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