ASF Outbreak Farm in Yeongwol Culled... Enhanced Biosecurity at Sow Slaughterhouse

On-site and Epidemiological Investigation and Detailed Inspection of Farms Near the Outbreak Site
Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: "Thorough Quarantine at Sow Slaughterhouses... Compliance with Farm Quarantine Rules"

Kim Hyun-soo (second from the left in the front row), Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, is visiting a sow slaughterhouse in Chungbuk on the 6th to inspect the site. (Photo by Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs)

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The culling of pigs at the pig farm in Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon-do, where African Swine Fever (ASF) occurred after 7 months, has been completed.

According to the ASF Central Accident Response Headquarters (CARH) on the 6th, the culling of the black pig farm in Yeongwol-gun, which was confirmed positive on the 5th, has been completed. Contaminated items such as feed will be disposed of.

Detailed inspections are being conducted on 170 pig farms in 12 adjacent cities and counties including Yeongwol, where the outbreak farm is located. All pig farms with a high possibility of spread, including 4 farms within 10km of the outbreak farm, 7 epidemiologically related farms, and 16 farms located in Yeongwol-gun and Jecheon-si, were confirmed negative. According to the on-site and epidemiological investigation by CARH, the farm where ASF occurred this time was close to the existing wild boar ASF outbreak site and has been included six times in the wild boar quarantine zone (within 10km) since December last year, indicating a high risk of occurrence.

CARH analyzed that pigs were raised outdoors outside the breeding facilities for a certain period, and the farm owner concurrently practiced crop farming in nearby fields, creating an environment where contaminants could easily enter the farm. CARH had prohibited outdoor grazing through an administrative order on September 17, 2019, for pig farm operators, as pigs raised outside breeding facilities could come into contact with the virus.

Since the virus can be introduced to farms when entering mountains in ASF outbreak areas for purposes such as spring vegetable gathering or hiking, cooperation is requested for the administrative order banning mountain entry starting from the 10th. ASF could spread through green fodder (Cheongye feed) fed to pigs in some farms, so feeding is prohibited, and crop farming such as vegetable gardens is discouraged; if unavoidable, thorough disinfection and non-introduction of farming equipment into the farm are requested.

Furthermore, to strengthen biosecurity management for sows vulnerable to ASF, instructions were given to comply with the ‘Sow Slaughterhouse Biosecurity Management Plan,’ including enhanced inspections at sow slaughterhouses nationwide, separation of sows and fattening pigs, and intensive disinfection of slaughterhouses.

Kim Hyun-soo, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and head of CARH, visited a sow slaughterhouse in Chungbuk on the day and said, "Thorough biosecurity management such as clinical inspection before sows enter the slaughterhouse, separation of sows and fattening pigs, and disinfection inside and outside vehicles must be carried out," and urged, "Please strictly disinfect farms, facilities, and vehicles, and pig farms must strictly follow basic biosecurity rules such as changing boots and hand sanitization."

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