First Detection of ASF Virus in Inje, Gangwon Province... 706 Cases Reported

Ministry of Environment "Second Fence Installation with Inje-gun... Restoration of Soyang River Fence Damaged by Heavy Rain"

A scene of quarantine measures being taken to prevent the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus from entering livestock farms due to heavy rainfall.
(Photo by Yonhap News)

[Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The Ministry of Environment announced on the 15th that the African Swine Fever (ASF) virus was detected on the 14th in one wild boar carcass found inside the wide-area fence in Gaa-ri, Inje-eup, Inje-gun, Gangwon Province.

This is the first time the ASF virus has been detected in Inje-gun.

Including this case, a total of 706 ASF cases have occurred as of the 14th.

The positive confirmed individual was found in a field ditch by a village resident engaged in farming activities.

The carcass discovery site is located in an area with villages and farmland about 16 km south of the Southern Limit Line. It is more than 20 km east from previously reported outbreak sites.

The Ministry of Environment estimates that ASF spread through transmission between individuals. This is because the area is connected to the Southern Limit Line surrounding region, which is expected to be contaminated, and mountainous areas.

The Ministry of Environment plans to cooperate with Inje-gun to promptly install a secondary fence and take measures to block the spread to surrounding areas.

In particular, the section of the wide-area fence along the Soyang River in Inje-gun, which suffered flood damage due to heavy rainfall, will prioritize restoring temporarily reinforced parts to block the spread to southern regions.

To confirm the range of infection spread and check for additional carcasses, 20 search personnel from Yanggu-gun and Inje-gun will be deployed to the Daeam-san area, the outbreak site, for intensive searching.

Additionally, capture cages and traps will be installed around wild boar traces and movement paths, and surveillance of floating objects such as carcasses in rivers will be strengthened.

An official from the Ministry of Environment urged, "When a wild boar carcass is found, do not approach it and promptly report it to local governments. Also, please refrain from entering nearby mountain areas and inside fences in the outbreak area."