African Swine Fever Recurs After 7 Months... Hong Nam-gi Urges Thorough Initial Quarantine Measures

Emergency African Swine Fever Quarantine Measures Meeting

Hong Nam-ki, Acting Prime Minister, is presiding over the African Swine Fever (ASF) related ministers' meeting at the Government Seoul Office on the afternoon of the 5th. 2021.5.5 [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seon-hee] Hong Nam-ki, Acting Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, urged on the 5th to "ensure thorough initial quarantine measures" in relation to the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) at a pig farm located in Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon Province.

Acting Prime Minister Hong held an emergency ASF quarantine countermeasure meeting in the afternoon at the Government Seoul Office, attended by ministers of related ministries and heads of local governments, and made this request. The meeting was attended by the Ministers of the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of Environment, the Director of the Office for Government Policy Coordination, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, and governors of Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, Chungbuk-do, and Gyeongbuk-do.

In his opening remarks, Acting Prime Minister Hong said, "Although we have strengthened quarantine measures by additionally installing wide-area fences in affected areas and reinforcing farm-specific quarantine systems since the ASF virus was first detected in wild boars on December 31 last year, it is regrettable that it has now occurred at a breeding farm." He instructed the Ministry of Agriculture to "cull pigs at the affected farm and issue a temporary movement suspension order for livestock, workers, and vehicles at pig farms and workplaces in Gyeonggi, Gangwon, and Chungbuk regions."

He also added, "Please conduct a thorough epidemiological investigation to quickly identify the source of transmission and respond promptly to prevent further damage," and "under close cooperation with related agencies and local governments, mobilize all available resources to strictly implement on-site quarantine measures such as operating and inspecting control posts and disinfection facilities at key points."

Furthermore, he ordered the Ministry of Environment to "quickly inspect and reinforce the secondary and wide-area fences near the affected farm," and "strengthen monitoring through carcass searches and environmental sample testing to prevent virus spread by wild boars, and ensure thorough removal of contamination sources and disinfection activities."

Acting Prime Minister Hong emphasized, "All initial measures must be proactive and bold," and urged, "While the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs leads the quarantine efforts, related ministries such as the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of National Defense, and Ministry of the Interior and Safety should actively cooperate by mobilizing all available resources for quarantine."

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