The 4th African Swine Fever Outbreak This Year Occurs in Yangyang, Gangwon

Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Ministry of Environment Joint Inspection Meeting
Emergency Culling and Disinfection Measures Implemented

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Gyumin] The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters for African Swine Fever (ASF) announced on the 12th that ASF has occurred at a pig farm located in Yangyang-gun, Gangwon Province. Twenty-three pigs died at the farm, and after a detailed examination by the Gangwon Provincial Animal Hygiene Testing Laboratory, ASF was confirmed. Approximately 1,950 pigs are being raised at this farm.

This is the fourth ASF outbreak this year. ASF previously occurred on the 5th of last month in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the 11th in Cheorwon, Gangwon Province, and on the 22nd in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters held an inspection meeting attended by related agencies and local governments, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Environment, Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, and Livestock Hygiene and Veterinary Support Headquarters, to assess the situation and review the progress of quarantine measures. To prevent the spread of ASF, initial quarantine teams and epidemiological investigation teams have been dispatched to control the entry of outsiders, livestock, and vehicles into the farm, and emergency quarantine measures such as culling, disinfection, and epidemiological investigations are underway.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

To block transmission between farms, a temporary movement suspension order has been issued for 48 hours for workers and vehicles at livestock-related facilities such as pig farms, slaughterhouses, and feed factories in Gangwon Province, excluding Cheorwon. Detailed inspections are also being conducted on about 30 pig farms within a 10 km radius of the affected farm, including farms in the quarantine zone and those epidemiologically linked to the affected farm.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters is mobilizing all available disinfection resources, including wide-area sprayers and water trucks, to intensively disinfect pig farms and surrounding roads in 18 cities and counties in Gangwon Province to block contamination in the affected area.

In particular, disinfection efforts are being strengthened in the adjacent areas of the affected cities and counties, including Sokcho, Hongcheon, Inje, and Gangneung.

Kim Injoong, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, stated, "Wild boars infected with ASF have been continuously confirmed not only in Gyeonggi and Gangwon but also in northern Chungbuk and Gyeongbuk, posing a serious risk of contamination entering pig farms. Therefore, to prevent further outbreaks, all related agencies, local governments, and pig farm stakeholders must make every effort."

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