Outbreaks of livestock diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease and highly pathogenic avian influenza (AI), have raised alarms in South Korea. In response, the Central Disaster Management Headquarters has implemented temporary movement restrictions in affected areas.
According to the Central Disaster Management Headquarters on November 13, eight cattle tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease during a surveillance inspection at a farm in Yecheon County on November 12. The headquarters dispatched an initial response team and an epidemiological investigation team to the affected farm, restricting access for outsiders, livestock, and vehicles while administering vaccinations.
Disinfection efforts were also carried out on roads surrounding six farms near Yecheon. Additionally, disinfection was completed for 12 related farms, 449 slaughterhouses, and five vehicles, with movement restrictions imposed.
However, given that the cattle at the affected farm showed no clinical symptoms and that a high antibody positivity rate was observed in detailed tests, experts decided to postpone the culling of the eight infected animals after consultations with the livestock quarantine advisory council. If subsequent tests indicate no transmission risk, the animals may be sent to slaughterhouses. Conversely, if further virus detection or an increase in infection antibodies occurs, the tests will be halted, and the livestock will be culled.
On the same day, an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza was confirmed at a layer farm in Ganghwa County, Incheon, marking the fourth occurrence this month.
The Central Disaster Management Headquarters convened meetings with relevant agencies and local governments to assess the outbreak situation and review biosecurity measures. The affected farm houses approximately 48,000 chickens, with the confirmed infection identified as H5N9.
The headquarters has deployed an initial response team to the farm, implementing access controls, livestock culling, and epidemiological investigations. To prevent the spread of AI, a temporary movement restriction order was issued for layer farms, slaughterhouses, and feed factories in the metropolitan area until 4 p.m. on November 13.
With three of the four confirmed AI cases this month occurring at layer farms, biosecurity measures will be intensified in the region. A joint inspection team of 40 will be organized to monitor disinfection practices at large layer farms housing over 100,000 chickens.
The vaccination team will restrict access to layer farms in Gyeonggi and Chungnam provinces until 9 a.m. on November 14, and starting November 16, a minimum one-day interval between visits to farms will be enforced.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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