Preventive responses to avian influenza(AI) infection in human in Korea, 2017-2018

Lee Jin, Jin Yewon, Lee Sangwon
Division of Public Health Emergency Management, Center for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, KCDC

During 2017-2018, 12 poultry cases infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N6 virus were confirmed in 22 poultry farms in 5 cities/provinces in Korea. 43 dead wild birds or fecal specimens infected with low pathogenic H5 or H7 AI virus were isolated/detected in 10 cities/provinces including Kyonggi-do, Chungcheomgnam-do, Jeollanam-do and Jeju-do. However, no AI infections in human have been reported in Korea so far. Since the first human infection with A/H7N4 virus occurred in China in 2018, a total of 5,227 workers dispatched to 22 AI outbreak farms in Korea, who were classified as a high-risk group, including culling workers, poultry workers, and response personnel, had been provided with these preemptive preventive measures: training for protective behaviors and safe disposal, and prophylaxis with anti-viral drugs, and administration with seasonal influenza vaccine. Furthermore, 16,706 preliminary reserved workers for the disposal of AI-infected poultry in Korea had also been trained with the preventive education as well as administration of seasonal influenza vaccine. The Division of Public Health Emergency Management within the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention strives for enhancing the vigilant surveillance against the incidence of AI infection in human as well as strengthening multi-sectorial collaboration for more efficient responses in accordance with one health approach.

Keywords: Avian influenza, Humans, Poultry, Wild bird, Vaccination, One Health