HPAI poultry culls
Enforcement Action
Expired
November 16, 2016
Summary
Following the first confirmed case on 16 November 2016, South Korea implemented nationwide stamping-out and quarantine measures against a highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N6/H5N8) epidemic that ran through 19 June 2017. The response extended the pre-emptive culling radius around infected farms from a prior 500 metres to up to 3 kilometres, resulting in approximately 37.8 to 40 million poultry culled across roughly 946 farms nationally, alongside nationwide standstill orders and a subsequent multi-month prohibition on raising ducks. South Korea reported recovery of HPAI-free status to the World Organisation for Animal Health on 13 October 2017.
Background Context
South Korea has experienced repeated HPAI epidemics since 2003, including four H5N1 waves and three H5N8 waves prior to this event, operating under a standing non-vaccination, stamping-out policy in place since HPAI was designated a Type 1 notifiable disease in 1982. Prior outbreaks had already established zone-based Emergency Quarantine Measures using a 500-metre pre-emptive culling radius and a national surveillance database (KAHIS) covering poultry farms, live bird markets, and migratory bird populations. The 2016–2017 wave was associated with a reassortant H5N6 virus with genetic links to European and wild bird strains, prompting authorities to extend the pre-emptive culling radius to 3 kilometres as a containment measure once the outbreak was confirmed.
System Impact
System Scale Direction
System Contraction
Type
Changes Scale
Significance
High
Stamping-out was applied to all poultry on infected farms and pre-emptively to farms within an expanded 3-kilometre radius, up from the 500-metre radius used in prior epidemics, resulting in culling on approximately 946 farms and removal of approximately 37.8 to 40 million poultry nationally between November 2016 and the epidemic’s conclusion in mid-2017. The national laying hen population fell to approximately 51.6 million by 1 March 2017, a reduction of more than a quarter. At least 18 nationwide or regional standstill orders restricted movement of poultry, eggs, manure, and associated vehicles during the outbreak period, and live poultry distribution in traditional markets was prohibited in affected areas. Direct government fiscal cost for compensation and quarantine operations for this epidemic was KRW 300.7 billion, excluding indirect industry losses. South Korea reported recovery of HPAI-free status to the World Organisation for Animal Health on 13 October 2017, and surveillance conducted between March and July 2018 found no HPAI antigens or antibodies across 680,745 samples from 10,074 locations.
Anticipated Effects
If the expanded 3-kilometre pre-emptive culling radius established during this epidemic continues to be applied in future outbreaks, it would be expected to increase the number of non-infected farms and birds culled per incident compared with the previously used 500-metre radius, while reducing the risk of onward spread from infected premises. This is not a confirmed outcome for this record; South Korea’s culling radius policy was subsequently adjusted downward in later years according to available sources, which is not detailed further here.
Significance Rationale
The cull removed approximately 37.8 to 40 million poultry from production across roughly 946 to 343 farms depending on the reporting basis, reducing the national laying hen population by more than a quarter to approximately 51.6 million hens by March 2017, at a direct fiscal cost to government of KRW 300.7 billion, which supports High significance.
Within The System
Key Actors
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) held policy authority for HPAI emergency measures, crisis-level declarations, and national coordination. The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA) conducted diagnostic testing, epidemiological investigation, viral genetic analysis, and technical guidance on stamping-out and quarantine zone design. Provincial and municipal (Si/Do and Si/Gun/Gu) governments operated regional AI situation rooms, implemented standstill orders, and mobilised personnel for culling and disinfection under the Act on the Prevention of Contagious Animal Diseases.
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