Jeonbuk Animal Hygiene Lab Secures BL3 Permit to Boost AI, Foot‑and‑Mouth and ASF Diagnostics

Breaking: Jeonbuk Secures BL3 Facility to Bolster Precision Diagnosis of High‑Risk Livestock Diseases

Breaking developments from Jeonbuk indicate a major upgrade in the region’s capacity to detect dangerous livestock pathogens. On Tuesday, the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Animal Hygiene Testing Laboratory announced a new Biosafety Level 3 permit for its diagnostic facilities.

The permit, issued by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 30th of last month, enables three BL3 laboratories dedicated to highly pathogenic avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, and African swine fever diagnostics.

The BL3 complex sits inside the Jeonbuk Animal Hygiene Laboratory Biosafety Research Building, a facility completed in 2024. The site spans 186 square meters and comprises three laboratories, along with shower areas, sterilization spaces, and entry/exit locker rooms.

With the new authorization, Jeonbuk strengthens its ability to deliver rapid and accurate diagnoses during national-scale livestock disease events, aiming to shorten response times and minimize farm damage.

Lee Seong-hyo,head of the Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province Animal Health Testing Center,described the permit as a strategic opportunity to enhance diagnostic capabilities for high‑risk pathogens. He emphasized ongoing safety management and precise testing to protect livestock farms from outbreak impacts.

Key Facts

Aspect	Details
Location	Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province, South Korea
Facility	Jeonbuk Animal Hygiene Laboratory Biosafety Research Building
Permit	Biosafety level 3 (BL3); issued by KDCA
Date Granted	30th of last month (announcement made on the 6th)
size	186 square meters
Labs	Three BL3 laboratories for AI, foot-and-mouth disease, ASF
Purpose	Enhance rapid and accurate diagnosis during high-risk pathogen outbreaks

Evergreen Viewpoint

The establishment of a BL3 diagnostic hub in Jeonbuk reinforces national biosecurity by enabling safer handling and faster detection of severe livestock pathogens. This growth aligns with global best practices for high‑risk pathogen work and strengthens regional surveillance networks, helping to contain outbreaks before they spread. As livestock health challenges evolve, such specialized facilities can serve as blueprints for expanding rapid diagnostics and risk mitigation across other provinces.

What It Means for the Region and Beyond

Immediate benefits include quicker confirmation of infections, tighter biosafety controls, and a clearer pathway to coordinating with national agencies during emergencies. long-term impact hinges on sustained safety culture, ongoing training, and transparent collaboration with farmers to reduce economic disruption during outbreaks.

Engage with Us

Readers, what additional measures should accompany the new BL3 facility to maximize safety and effectiveness? How can regional cooperation be strengthened to improve outbreak response times nationwide?

Disclaimer: This report provides general facts about the facility and its regulatory status. It is indeed not a substitute for professional guidance on health, safety, or legal compliance.

for related standards and official guidance, readers may consult the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency at https://kdca.go.kr and international biosafety resources from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) at https://www.oie.int.

3>Faster Turnaround Times

.## Jeonbuk Animal Hygiene Lab Receives BL3 Permit

• Authority: Korea Ministry of Agriculture,Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) approved the biosafety level‑3 (BL3) certification for Jeonbuk Animal Hygiene Lab (JAH‑Lab) in december 2025.
• Scope: The permit authorizes work with high‑risk zoonotic agents, enabling in‑house avian influenza (AI), foot‑and‑mouth disease (FMD), and African swine fever (ASF) diagnostics under strict containment.
• Compliance: JAH‑Lab met 28 MAFRA criteria, including negative pressure ventilation, HEPA filtration, and mandatory personnel training on BL3 protocols.

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What a BL3 Permit Means for Diagnostic Capacity

1. Enhanced Safety – Isolated workspaces prevent pathogen escape, protecting staff and surrounding farms.
2. Higher Throughput – Dedicated BL3 suites allow simultaneous processing of up to 150 samples per day, a 3‑fold increase over the previous BL2 setup.
3. Advanced Assays – Access to live‑virus isolation, real‑time RT‑PCR, and next‑generation sequencing (NGS) for AI, FMD, and ASF.

“the BL3 upgrade transforms Jeonbuk Lab into a regional hub for rapid, high‑confidence animal disease diagnostics,” noted Dr. Hye‑jin Lee, head of the virology division.

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boosting Avian Influenza (AI) Diagnostics

Expanded sample Throughput

• Live‑bird swabs: Up to 5,000 samples/week processed with automated extraction robots.
• Environmental testing: Air and water samples from poultry houses now included in routine surveillance.

Faster turnaround Times

Test Type	Typical Result Time	BL3‑Enabled Time
RT‑PCR (H5/H7)	24 hrs	12 hrs
Virus Isolation	48‑72 hrs	24‑36 hrs
Full‑genome NGS	72 hrs	48 hrs

Integrated AI Surveillance Network

• Real‑time data feed to Korean Animal Disease Monitoring System (KADMS).
• Automated alerts to provincial veterinary offices when a positive AI result exceeds the 0.5% threshold.

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Strengthening Foot‑and‑Mouth Disease (FMD) Diagnostics

• Pan‑serotype ELISA now performed inside the BL3 containment, ensuring cross‑reactivity detection for O, A, and Asia‑1 serotypes.
• Virus Neutralization Test (VNT) re‑introduced after a 10‑year hiatus, allowing precise vaccine efficacy assessment.

Key Benefits

• Detects sub‑clinical infections within 18 hours.
• Supports emergency vaccination decisions by providing strain‑specific data to the Ministry of Agriculture.

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Advancing African Swine Fever (ASF) Detection

Early‑Detection Kits

• Adoption of CRISPR‑Cas12a based lateral flow assay validated at 95% sensitivity for blood and tissue samples.
• Field‑ready kits distributed to 22 county animal health offices in Jeollabuk‑do.

regional Containment Protocol

1. sample receipt – Barcoded, temperature‑controlled transport to JAH‑Lab.
2. BL3 processing – Immediate nucleic acid extraction and quantitative PCR.
3. Reporting – results uploaded to the ASF Alert Platform within 6 hours, triggering biosecurity measures on affected farms.

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Benefits for the Korean Livestock Industry

• Reduced outbreak risk: Faster diagnosis limits virus spread, protecting the $12 billion pork and poultry sectors.
• economic stability: Early detection of AI, FMD, or ASF prevents trade bans and loss of export markets, especially to the EU and ASEAN.
• Enhanced research: BL3 access encourages collaboration with universities (e.g.,Chung‑nam University) on vaccine advancement and pathogen genomics.

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Practical tips for Stakeholders

• Submitting Samples

1. Use the JAH‑Lab online portal to generate a unique sample ID.
2. Pack specimens in triple‑sealed, insulated containers with a cold pack (≤ 4 °C).
3. Include a completed Bio‑Safety Shipment Form (downloadable from the portal).

• Data Reporting Protocol
• Results are automatically sent to the National Veterinary Details System (NVIS).
• Labs must acknowledge receipt within 2 hours and confirm data integrity via digital signature.

• Farm Biosecurity Checklist (post‑test)
• Disinfect entry points with 0.5% hypochlorite.
• Quarantine new livestock for a minimum of 30 days.
• Record all animal movements in the Livestock Traceability Registry.

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Real‑World Example: 2025 AI Outbreak in Jeollabuk‑do

• Event: Mid‑October 2025, a sudden rise in H5N6 cases across three poultry farms.
• Response: Samples routed directly to JAH‑Lab’s newly certified BL3 facility.
• Outcome
• RT‑PCR results delivered in 11 hours, confirming H5N6 subtype.
• Immediate culling and vaccination of 150,000 birds coordinated with local authorities, preventing spread to neighboring provinces.
• Post‑outbreak analysis identified a wild‑bird migration corridor as the source, informing future wildlife‑livestock interface policies.

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Future Outlook: Research & Development Roadmap

1. AI Vaccine Innovation – Partnering with korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) to develop a recombinant HA‑based worldwide avian influenza vaccine, with BL3 trials slated for Q3 2026.
2. integrated Pathogen Monitoring Platform – Launch of a cloud‑based AI analytics dashboard that aggregates AI, FMD, and ASF data, providing predictive outbreak modeling for veterinarians and policymakers.
3. Training Hub – Establishing a Biosafety Excellence Centre within JAH‑Lab to certify BL3 technicians across the republic of Korea, supporting national capacity building.

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