Seven confirmed cases of African swine fever in S. Korea as of Thurs.: Agriculture Ministry
- 5 years ago
South Korea has confirmed its seventh case of African swine fever, prompting authorities to extend a movement ban on pigs.
More suspected cases are reported from Yangju and Gangwha, and the disease continues to spread in the northern parts of the country.
It's not harmful to humans, but is fatal to pigs, putting pork supplies at risk.
Kim Jae-hee has the latest.
The seventh case of African swine fever has been confirmed in a farm on Seongmodo Island in Ganghwa County, in Incheon, some 80 km west of Seoul on Thursday.
The farm housed only two pigs and was closed to the public at the time ASF was confirmed, raising questions over how the disease found its way there.
This marks the third of seven confirmed ASF cases to originate in Ganghwa County.
The South Korean government is on high alert.
The entire province of Gyeonggi-do, Incheon, and Gangwon-do Province are currently under quarantine.
The government has also decided to prohibit the possible movement of livestock in Gyeonggi-do Province to other regions.
"A nationwide standstill on all pig farms, feed factories and slaughterhouses was supposed to be lifted as of 12PM Thursday, but has been extended for another 48 hours."
Incheon said it will cull pigs within 3 kilometers of the infected farms, which amounts to around one-fifth of the entire pig population in Incheon.
Public gatherings such as festivals have also been called off.
It's not clear how the disease entered South Korea, but North Korea reported its own outbreak back in May, so authorities are inspecting inter-Korean waterways and issuing strict quarantine orders on them as well as 14 cities and counties near North Korea.
Meanwhile, South Korea's local news agency yonhap reported that no cases of African swine fever were found in some one thousand wild boars across the nation.
Kim Jae-hee, Arirang News, Incheon.
More suspected cases are reported from Yangju and Gangwha, and the disease continues to spread in the northern parts of the country.
It's not harmful to humans, but is fatal to pigs, putting pork supplies at risk.
Kim Jae-hee has the latest.
The seventh case of African swine fever has been confirmed in a farm on Seongmodo Island in Ganghwa County, in Incheon, some 80 km west of Seoul on Thursday.
The farm housed only two pigs and was closed to the public at the time ASF was confirmed, raising questions over how the disease found its way there.
This marks the third of seven confirmed ASF cases to originate in Ganghwa County.
The South Korean government is on high alert.
The entire province of Gyeonggi-do, Incheon, and Gangwon-do Province are currently under quarantine.
The government has also decided to prohibit the possible movement of livestock in Gyeonggi-do Province to other regions.
"A nationwide standstill on all pig farms, feed factories and slaughterhouses was supposed to be lifted as of 12PM Thursday, but has been extended for another 48 hours."
Incheon said it will cull pigs within 3 kilometers of the infected farms, which amounts to around one-fifth of the entire pig population in Incheon.
Public gatherings such as festivals have also been called off.
It's not clear how the disease entered South Korea, but North Korea reported its own outbreak back in May, so authorities are inspecting inter-Korean waterways and issuing strict quarantine orders on them as well as 14 cities and counties near North Korea.
Meanwhile, South Korea's local news agency yonhap reported that no cases of African swine fever were found in some one thousand wild boars across the nation.
Kim Jae-hee, Arirang News, Incheon.