The National Institute of Wildlife Disease Control and Prevention (Director Shin Dong-in), under the Ministry of Environment, announced that it will conduct on-site investigations in the bird wintering areas of Miyagi Prefecture, Japan, from November 27 to December 1 in collaboration with the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology* and others to strengthen surveillance of highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI) in South Korea.

* Wild Bird Research Institution located in Tokyo, Japan.

The joint investigation between South Korea and Japan was initiated based on the proposal for collaborative research outlined in the ‘Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Disease Prevention and Response in the Field of Avian Influenza (AI),’ signed on June 20 of this year at the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology in Japan.

Domestic research teams* such as the National Institute of Wildlife Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology in Japan, plan to enhance response and surveillance by capturing and attaching location-tracking devices to wild birds susceptible to avian influenza, such as ducks and geese. This joint effort aims to identify the location information of wild birds migrating between wintering areas in South Korea and Japan during the winter season.

* Collaborative Research Project: Attachment of Location-Tracking Devices by the National Institute of Wildlife Disease Control and Prevention and the Korea Institute of Environmental Ecology

South Korea and Japan share migratory bird routes (East Asia-Oceania, West Pacific migratory routes), necessitating joint responses between the two countries. In South Korea, there have been 28 detections of low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses without the occurrence of highly pathogenic avian influenza. However, in Japan, 19 cases of H5N1-type highly pathogenic avian influenza have been detected. 

* Cases of H5N1 Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (AI) in Japan: Total of 19 cases (14 from carcasses of wild birds, 1 from a debilitated wild bird, 2 from feces, and 2 from environmental samples) 

Shin Dong-in, the Director of the National Institute of Wildlife Disease Control and Prevention, stated, “It is important to strengthen surveillance through the identification of wild bird locations in overseas wintering areas to prepare for the potential introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza into the country.” He added, “Continuous monitoring of the influx of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses into the country will be conducted based on the agreement signed with the Yamashina Institute for Ornithology in June and the collaborative research that ensued.” 

For further information, please contact the Public Relations Division. 

Contact person: Gina Lee, foreign media spokesperson

Phone: +82-44-201-6055

Email: gcjgina @gmail.com