South Korea Confirms 16th Avian Flu Outbreak This Season at Naju Duck Farm

Latest Case Triggers Heightened Quarantine Measures

South Korea confirmed its 16th case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) at a poultry farm this season, reporting an infection on Sunday at a duck farm in the southwestern part of the country. The outbreak occurred in Naju, a city in South Jeolla Province located 285 kilometers (about 177 miles) south of Seoul, according to the central disaster management headquarters.

Government Mounts Swift Response

The affected farm raises 23,000 ducks. In response to the confirmation, authorities said they are implementing special quarantine measures at the site. The government is also strengthening the monitoring of related facilities and transport vehicles to prevent the disease from spreading further.

As a preemptive measure, officials plan to conduct intensive inspections at more than 200 duck farms throughout the region, starting this Monday. This series of outbreaks highlights the persistent challenge governments face in containing seasonal agricultural diseases that threaten both food security and economic stability.