Seoul City will strengthen preemptive measures against avian influenza by keeping a close watch on the arrival of  migratory birds, officials said Wednesday.

Seoul Metropolitan Government said it would conduct virus tests on 60 migratory birds that inhabit the area around the Hangang River. It will attach location-tracking systems to half of them to monitor their travel routes.

The location-tracking system is connected to a communications network, enabling the city government to track the birds’ travel route in real time on the Internet and on mobile phones, they said. 

When a bird travels to regions that have avian influenza and returns to Seoul, the city will immediately send alerts to district offices and enforce quarantine measures.

Similar measures are carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs in the habitats of migratory birds around livestock farms. However, it is the first time this system is being adopted in an urban area, officials said.

“As a large number of migratory birds visit the Hangang River and streams in the city, it’s crucial to proactively prevent bird flu. The monitoring measures with the location-tracking system will play an important role in securing the public rest spaces for citizens,” said city officials.

In February last year, a highly pathogenic H5N8 strain of avian influenza was detected in the feces of migratory birds at Jungnangcheon Stream. The city immediately restricted public access to the stream and enforced quarantine measures.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)