Wild Boar African Swine Fever Cases Increase by Over 370 in Three Months

Government to Strengthen Wild Boar Management and Farm Biosecurity Measures Simultaneously

On the morning of August 12 last year, officials are conducting quarantine measures at a pig farm in Anseong-si, Gyeonggi-do to prevent the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus from entering livestock farms due to heavy rain. (Image source=Yonhap News)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] Cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) infection in wild boars have increased by about 370 over the past three months. Although quarantine authorities are working to prevent the spread through fence installation, search and capture, and intensive disinfection, the spread is not easily slowing down. While strengthening farm quarantine by seeking cooperation such as compliance with quarantine rules by pig farmers, measures such as capturing wild boars will be implemented in parallel.

According to the African Swine Fever Central Accident Response Headquarters (CARH) on the 11th, a total of 1,312 cases of ASF infection in wild boars have occurred in 13 cities and counties as of the 9th. This is an increase of 372 cases from 941 cases (12 cities and counties) on January 14.

According to CARH, no ASF cases have occurred on farms since last October, but infection cases through wild boars continue without interruption. Recently, three ASF infections were confirmed outside the wild boar exclusion fences in Yeongwol, Gangwon Province on February 23 and 26, and in Chuncheon on the 10th of last month.

CARH explained that after the spring birthing season in April and May, there is a high risk that the number of wild boars will rapidly increase and infected individuals will spread to farm-dense areas such as southern Gyeonggi Province. Areas outside the border regions where ASF has not occurred are equally at risk. This is because inadequate quarantine facilities such as external fences and sow house management have been identified, raising concerns about contamination sources entering. Also, from April, dense vegetation will make carcass searches difficult, and as temperatures rise, the activity of wild animals, insects, and other vectors is expected to increase.

Accordingly, CARH is implementing a two-pronged ASF quarantine strategy focusing on wild boar management and farm quarantine. In particular, to prevent the spread of wild boars, they are lowering population density and blocking movement through intensive capture, carcass inspection, and fence installation. From December 14 last year to the 31st of last month, 3.111 million wild boars were captured in the Gangwon Province wide control area (Gangneung, Hongcheon, Hoengseong, Pyeongchang, Yangyang) to reduce their numbers.

Since the 11th of last month, 290 search personnel have been deployed in 23 villages within a 10 km radius of the detection point in Chuncheon, a core control area, and along movement routes to remove contamination sources from carcasses. The search personnel will be expanded from 17 cities and counties where ASF has occurred and adjacent areas to 28 cities and counties. The number of personnel deployed will increase from 360 to 540. Additionally, fence installation on national roads near recent ASF outbreak areas such as Chuncheon and Yeongwol is scheduled to be completed within this month. Fences will also be installed at four farm-dense complexes in Cheorwon and Yangpyeong areas within this month.

To strengthen farm quarantine, intensive disinfection, facility improvements, and farming activities are continuously carried out. To remove contamination sources, about 190 vehicles including joint control teams, wide-area disinfection vehicles, and military disinfection vehicles are mobilized daily for intensive disinfection in ASF-positive detection areas and surrounding farms and roads. About 530 vehicles are mobilized nationwide to disinfect farms four times a week. Facility improvements are underway at 46 farms in 13 cities and counties nationwide within ASF priority quarantine management zones to restrict livestock vehicle access to farms.

Among about 5,500 farms nationwide excluding closed or suspended farms, 751 farms (13%) were inspected, and 33 deficiencies were found in 27 farms and corrected. Cases of insufficient vehicle disinfection facilities and external fence installation, as well as failure to install compost yard nets and wild boar repellents, were detected. Some were also found not adhering to basic quarantine measures such as changing boots. Among 160 farms previously found deficient, 50 had completed facility improvements as of the 9th, and 110 are undergoing construction to complete improvements by the end of this month.

Park Byunghong, Director of the Food Industry Policy Office at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Centered on CARH, we are actively promoting measures to block the spread of wild boars and farm quarantine to prevent ASF in spring in cooperation with related ministries, local governments, and producer organizations." He urged, "Farms nationwide should promptly improve quarantine facilities themselves, refrain from farming activities in spring, prohibit bringing farming equipment into farms, disinfect sow houses daily, and strictly follow basic quarantine rules such as changing boots and washing hands when entering livestock barns."

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