North Korea claims to have H5N1 vaccine

“The production of H5N1 vaccine locally developed recently in our country is increased and the compulsory vaccination of it to whole poultry flocks is being done,” said Ri Kyong Gun, director of the North’s Veterinary and Anti-Epidemic Department.

Ri did not say when the H5N1 vaccine was developed or how effective it is.

Bird flu hit North Korea early last year, prompting the slaughter of about 210,000 chickens and other poultry. No new cases have since been reported. Across the tightly sealed border with the South, three cases of bird flu have broken out since last month, forcing the government to cull more than 1.13 million birds.

At a chicken farm in Pyongyang on Wednesday, quarantine workers were disinfecting all trucks entering the farm, spraying disinfectants on the vehicles and putting disinfectant powder on the ground to make sure tires do not carry any virus.

Quarantine workers at the farm were seen giving vaccine shots to chickens.

“Our chicken farm is taking thorough measures to ban contacts from outside, control vehicles and people coming in and out of the farm and vaccinate whole poultry flocks,” said Jo Yong Pil, head of the farm’s veterinary control team.

Related articles:

Korean poultry industry recovers from AI scare

South Korea begins cull while North steps up prevention

For the latest poultry news, subscribe here.