Acting Prime Minister Hong Issues Emergency Orders on African Swine Fever: "Culling and Movement Ban"

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Son Seonhee] Hong Nam-ki, Acting Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister for Economy, urgently ordered rapid culling and the issuance of a standstill order regarding the outbreak of African Swine Fever at a pig farm located in Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon Province, the Office for Government Policy Coordination announced on the 5th.

Acting Prime Minister Hong instructed Kim Hyun-soo, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, saying, "Cooperate closely with local governments and related agencies to swiftly carry out culling measures at the African Swine Fever outbreak farm," and urged, "Ensure thorough initial quarantine measures such as the standstill order according to the emergency Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)."

He also added, "Quickly identify the transmission cause through epidemiological investigation, and under close cooperation with related agencies and local governments, mobilize all available resources to ensure that on-site quarantine measures such as the operation and inspection of control posts and disinfection facilities at key points are thoroughly implemented."

Furthermore, he directed Minister of Environment Han Jeong-ae, "Promptly inspect and reinforce the secondary and wide-area fences in the vicinity of the outbreak farm," and ordered, "Strengthen monitoring activities such as searching for carcasses and testing environmental samples to prevent the virus from spreading through wild boars, and ensure thorough removal of contamination sources and disinfection activities."