Special Management of Farms Related to Epidemiology and Farms Within 10km of Past Outbreak Areas
[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Following the outbreak of African Swine Fever (ASF) at a pig farm in Yanggu, Gangwon Province on the 19th, Gyeonggi Province has launched quarantine measures to block the spread to farms within the province.
On the 19th, immediately after the ASF outbreak in Gangwon Province, the province held an 'Emergency Quarantine Status Inspection Meeting between Gyeonggi Province and Cities/Counties' chaired by the 2nd Deputy Governor of Administration to review the quarantine progress by city and county and establish a cooperative system.
Through the 'Standstill' measure, the movement of pigs, workers, and entry vehicles to the entire Gangwon Province (except Cheorwon) was restricted for 48 hours from 10:30 PM on the 18th to 10:30 PM on the 20th.
Movement restrictions were imposed for 21 days on 52 pig farms within the province epidemiologically linked to the affected farm in Yanggu, and detailed inspections and clinical tests on all pigs at these farms confirmed all were negative.
Special management, including daily clinical inspections and pre-shipment tests, is being conducted on 224 high-risk pig farms located within 10 km of wild boar quarantine zones in the province.
As ASF among wild boars is spreading in adjacent eastern and southern Gyeonggi areas such as Wonju and Chungju, installation of eight quarantine facilities has been completed at pig farms in Yangpyeong and Yeoju, and installation is being encouraged at farms in Icheon, Yongin, and Anseong.
Additionally, efforts will be made to reduce the wild boar population through intensive trapping in autumn and to strengthen management to ensure pig farms adhere to basic quarantine rules.
Meanwhile, since the first ASF outbreak in domestic farmed pigs in September 2019, 23 cases have occurred in 10 cities and counties nationwide, and 2,655 cases have been reported in wild boars across 28 cities and counties nationwide.
Within Gyeonggi Province, no outbreaks have occurred since the last case in Yeoncheon on October 9, 2019 (as of August 22, 2022).
Kim Jong-hoon, Director of the Animal Quarantine and Hygiene Division, stated, "The period from August to October each year is a high-risk time for ASF outbreaks due to heavy rains, typhoons, and increased wild boar feeding activity causing contaminants to enter farms," and urged, "As ASF has occurred in Gangwon Province, pig farms within the province should devote full efforts to operating quarantine facilities."
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