Gimpo Reports 'African Swine Fever' Outbreak... Gyeonggi Province Mobilizes All Efforts to Prevent Spread

Intensive Quarantine for Pig Farms and Livestock Facilities
Full Effort to Reduce Wild Boar Population

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Following the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province on the 22nd, Gyeonggi Province has launched an all-out effort to prevent the spread of ASF among pig farms in the province.

On the 25th, Gyeonggi Province announced, "A temporary movement suspension order (Standstill) for pig farms, livestock facilities (such as slaughterhouses), and livestock vehicles within the province was issued from 8:30 PM on the 22nd to 8:30 PM on the 24th, lasting 48 hours."

African Swine Fever (ASF) Outbreak Status [Photo by Gyeonggi-do]

After imposing movement control on the affected farm, the province buried 2,009 pigs and contaminated materials in a liquid fertilizer storage tank, and took preventive measures for 2,689 pigs at neighboring farms sharing the same road.

Additionally, movement restrictions were imposed on 7 farms within the 10 km quarantine zone around the affected farm, 9 farms epidemiologically related, and 142 farms related to slaughterhouse epidemiology. Animal health inspectors from the Animal Hygiene Testing Laboratory conducted on-site clinical surveillance and blood sampling tests, all of which were confirmed negative.

The affected farm and farms within the 10 km quarantine zone will maintain movement restrictions for more than 30 days under quarantine management, while epidemiologically related farms will have movement restrictions for more than 21 days from the last visit by vehicles or people.

To reduce the wild boar population as much as possible until March, the wild boar birthing season, trapping is being promoted. Pig farms are urged to disinfect farms and surrounding roads and to install disinfectants and repellents on wild boar access routes.

Kim Jong-hoon, Director of Animal Quarantine and Hygiene at Gyeonggi Province, stated, "Not only in northern Gyeonggi but throughout the province, ASF contamination sources can enter farms outdoors at any time," and urged, "Farms should maintain quarantine facilities and strictly follow quarantine rules."

He especially emphasized, "If pigs show suspected ASF symptoms such as loss of appetite or increased mortality, or if sows (mother pigs) show abnormal symptoms including death, please report immediately to the quarantine authorities."

Meanwhile, since ASF first occurred in farmed pigs in 2019, 31 cases have been reported in 13 cities and counties in Gyeonggi, Incheon, and Gangwon, and 2,794 cases have been reported in wild boars across 33 cities and counties nationwide (as of January 24, 2023).

This is 17 days after the outbreak in farmed pigs in Pocheon on the 5th.

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