South Korea Confirms Fifth Case of Foot-and-Mouth Disease
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Synopsis
On March 16, South Korea reported an additional case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), increasing the total to five cases this year. Measures are being taken to control the outbreak, including culling affected cattle and initiating a nationwide vaccination program.
Key Takeaways
- South Korea reports fifth case of FMD this year.
- Infection found in Muan, 290 km south of Seoul.
- All cattle at the farm will be culled.
- Crisis level raised to 'serious' for Muan and nearby areas.
- Nationwide vaccination program to commence soon.
Seoul, March 16 (NationPress) South Korea has confirmed another case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) at a local farm, bringing the total number of cases this year to five, as reported by the agriculture ministry.
The most recent incident occurred at a beef cattle farm in Muan, located approximately 290 kilometers south of Seoul, where three cows were identified as infected, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, as noted by Yonhap news agency.
On Friday, the nation reported its first outbreak of FMD at a local farm since May 2023, with three additional cases found the next day in the county of Yeongam, South Jeolla Province.
In a preventive measure, all cattle at the affected farm will be culled, and the ministry indicated that additional quarantine actions will be implemented.
The government has elevated the crisis level for Muan and several nearby regions to "serious," which is the highest tier in its four-level system, and has initiated a nationwide FMD vaccination program that was originally scheduled for next month.
FMD is a severe and highly contagious viral illness that impacts cows, pigs, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals, but it does not affect humans.
Acting President Choi Sang-mok has instructed relevant ministries to adopt comprehensive preventive measures to control the outbreak promptly.
"The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs must work closely with pertinent agencies to quickly execute emergency actions, including rapid culling, entry controls, testing, and disinfection, as specified in the emergency response guidelines," Choi stated.
Earlier this January, South Korea imposed an import ban on German pork following an outbreak of the highly contagious FMD in Germany, as reported by Yonhap.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs explained that this decision came after Germany reported its first case of FMD since 1988.
