Ulsan Health and Environment Research Institute Increases Routine Testing Amid Foot-and-Mouth Disease Influx Concerns

Active Use of Veterinary Officers, Expansion of Number of Inspections per Farm

The Ulsan Health and Environment Research Institute has decided to significantly strengthen the routine surveillance testing for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in the second half of the year.

This measure was prepared to conduct early detection of the disease’s entry into the region and to preemptively block risk factors following the outbreak of FMD in the Chungbuk area last May.

The strengthened measures include expanding the FMD testing for specialized cattle farms with more than 50 head from the previous random sampling of 5 cattle to a random sampling of 16 cattle.

Accordingly, the number of tests will increase from the initially planned 995 cattle to 2,100 cattle annually, and the increased volume will be actively managed by utilizing veterinary officers.

Testing for small-scale cattle and goat farms, as well as all pig farms, will continue as before.

Additionally, by analyzing vaccine antibody positivity rates, continuous vaccine antibody testing and technical support consultations will be provided for farms with low rates to take proactive measures. Observation of suspected FMD symptoms in slaughtered cattle will be intensified to enable early detection of potentially infected livestock.

A representative from the Health and Environment Research Institute stated, “We will maintain vigilance that FMD can recur at any time and will further strengthen the routine surveillance testing system through cooperation with producer organizations to prevent its entry.”

Under the enhanced testing system, cattle with an FMD vaccine antibody positivity rate below 80% will be subject to administrative sanctions without retesting.

Ulsan Institute of Health and Environment Research.

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