Government: "Triple quarantine of 'Outbreak Site-Farm-Livestock Barn' for African Swine Fever in Summer"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Sejong=Asia Economy Reporter Moon Chaeseok] The government announced on the 29th that it will implement triple-layered quarantine measures along the route from 'wild boar occurrence areas → farms → livestock barns' to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF) during the summer season.

The ASF Central Accident Response Headquarters plans to increase the Ministry of Environment's search personnel from 50 to 115 in areas where ASF frequently occurs, such as Inje-gun, Gangwon-do. A special capture team of 53 members will immediately capture wild boars upon confirming their presence to reduce their population. In addition, a second fence will be installed next month in Gapyeong and Namyangju, Gyeonggi-do, to prevent ASF from spreading to southern Gyeonggi.

By next month, external fences and repellents will be installed at 1,101 farms around infection sites. To prevent contamination from spreading to farms, 177 disinfection resources will be mobilized to disinfect five times a week. Disinfection will mainly target water systems in high-risk areas, roads near detection sites, and entrances and surroundings of pig farms. To block the virus, farm workers' access to cultivated land will be restricted. Eighteen cities and counties bordering ASF outbreak areas have been designated as 'priority quarantine management zones,' where vehicle entry will be controlled. Vehicle control has already been implemented in 13 cities and counties adjacent to Yeongwol-gun, Gangwon-do.

Furthermore, quarantine rule promotion will be strengthened. Compliance requirements such as four-stage disinfection, prohibition of free-range rearing, ban on entering outbreak areas, and prohibition of feeding fresh grass will be promoted through social networking services (SNS) to all pig farms nationwide. The four-stage disinfection includes establishing a quicklime belt around farms, daily cleaning and disinfection inside farms, changing boots and hand disinfection when entering barns, and daily disinfection inside barns.

Meanwhile, Kim Hyun-soo, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and head of the Central Response Headquarters, inspected the Gangwon LPC slaughterhouse in Wonju, Gangwon-do, and the wild boar ASF barrier fence near the detection site in Hongcheon, Gangwon-do, on the same day. At the site, Minister Kim said, "Please actively participate in social efforts such as banning private gatherings along with quarantine management including ventilation and disinfection of workplaces to prevent COVID-19, and controlling access of outsiders," and urged, "Strengthen quarantine management such as clinical inspection of pigs before entering the slaughterhouse, thorough washing and disinfection of incoming vehicles, and separation of vehicle entry and exit routes."

He added, "Please devote all efforts to fence management, carcass searches, and wild boar capture in areas with frequent recent ASF outbreaks such as Gapyeong and Hongcheon," and emphasized, "Since strengthening biosecurity at pig farms is crucial to blocking ASF transmission, farm workers should comply with quarantine rules such as prohibiting access to cultivated land near outbreak areas, washing hands and changing boots when entering barns, and minimizing contact with sows."