Hwasun-gun Strengthens Livestock Infectious Disease Prevention Measures

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Kim Young-gyun] Hwasun County, Jeollanam-do (County Governor Gu Chung-gon) announced on the 18th that it will strengthen quarantine measures to prevent livestock infectious diseases.

The county is focusing all efforts on prevention activities by establishing a systematic and proactive quarantine system, including vaccine supply, comprehensive inspections of farms, and thorough testing of livestock.

They are also working on preemptive quarantine measures considering the timing (season) and characteristics of outbreaks.

To block the regional inflow of African Swine Fever (ASF), which remains at the 'severe' stage of the livestock disease crisis alert, a base disinfection facility has been operated since September last year.

Preemptive measures have also been taken, such as managing livestock-related vehicles and workers, operating a dedicated officer system for pig farms, and providing focused guidance to pig farms employing foreign workers.

According to data from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, 14 cases occurred last year at pig farms in Paju, Yeoncheon, Gimpo, and Ganghwa, resulting in the culling of 389,630 pigs.

Additionally, 580 cases of the virus were detected in wild boar carcasses mainly in northern Gyeonggi and northern Gangwon regions, and 30 cases were found in water puddles, soil, and vehicles, raising concerns about further spread.

ASF is known to increase in spring and summer when vectors such as flies and mosquitoes are active, making it important to block contact between farms and the virus.

Previously, the county inspected all pig farms' quarantine facilities such as fences and composting sites until last month.

To prevent wild boars from approaching pig farms, the county supplied 960 packs of animal repellents, 6,040 bags of quicklime, and 3,200 kg of disinfectants to farms, strengthening guidance and inspections to block infectious diseases.

The county conducts mass vaccinations against Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) twice a year in April and October for all cattle and goats to increase antibody positivity rates.

From this year, unlike before, not only farms raising fewer than 50 cattle but also small-scale goat farms with fewer than 300 goats will receive vaccinations through dispatched veterinarians, while other full-time farmers will perform self-vaccination.

In particular, this year, management has been strengthened for farms that did not meet the standard antibody positivity rates for FMD.

Pig farms with insufficient antibody positivity rates will not only be fined but also excluded from livestock quarantine projects such as Circovirus vaccines and Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome vaccines.

Based on FMD vaccine antibody test results, full-time farms with positivity rates below 80% for cattle, 60% for breeding pigs and goats, and 30% for fattening pigs will have their FMD vaccine subsidies cut by 50% starting July 1 and will be intensively managed until antibody positivity improves.

Along with this, the county plans to conduct a comprehensive inspection of poultry farms from this month until September by organizing inspection teams with the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to prevent Avian Influenza (AI), which occurs in poultry during winter.

The mass inspection aims to raise farmers' awareness and supplement any quarantine deficiencies in advance.

The target farms are those raising 2,000 or more chickens, ducks, or other poultry.

The county will check quarantine rules such as blocking outsiders' access, maintaining disinfection logs, and the presence and proper operation of quarantine facilities like anterooms and CCTV.

Based on inspection results, farms with inadequate quarantine facilities will be ordered to repair and maintain facilities according to the revised livestock infectious disease regulations, submit implementation plans, and be monitored for improvements.

Since last month, mass testing for Brucellosis and Tuberculosis, which cause significant damage to Korean native cattle and beef cattle farms, has been underway.

The mass testing targets female Korean native and beef cattle aged one year or older and will be conducted for about three months until July 31.

To efficiently carry out the mass testing, dispatched veterinarians have been designated as blood collection personnel.

A county official said, “If a livestock infectious disease occurs, the production base of farms collapses instantly, causing not only direct economic losses but also huge economic damage due to reduced consumption, threatening livelihoods. Above all, autonomous quarantine by farms, such as blocking outsiders and conducting disinfection, is crucial.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.