Gyeonggi-do Implements 'Emergency Quarantine Measures' Following African Swine Fever Outbreak in Hwacheon

Livestock Quarantine Disinfection

Gyeonggi Province has initiated emergency quarantine measures following the outbreak of African Swine Fever at a pig farm located in Hwacheon County, Gangwon Province on the 25th.

On the 26th, Gyeonggi Province announced that it is conducting clinical surveillance and detailed inspections after imposing movement restrictions on five farms in the Yangpyeong, Yeoju, and Paju areas that are epidemiologically linked to the Hwacheon outbreak farm.

Earlier, the government issued a temporary movement suspension order for 48 hours from 0:00 on the 26th to 24:00 on the 27th for livestock-related personnel and vehicles at pig farms, slaughterhouses, feed factories, and other livestock facilities in five cities and counties adjacent to Hwacheon County (Pocheon, Gapyeong, Cheorwon, Chuncheon, Yanggu) to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever.

Violating the temporary movement suspension order may result in imprisonment for up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million KRW.

Gyeonggi Province is guiding livestock facilities and pig farms to conduct daily self-disinfection to prevent the spread of African Swine Fever. It is also deploying a total of 164 available disinfection devices, including major road control checkpoints and communal disinfection tanks, to carry out intensive disinfection of vulnerable farms and adjacent roads.

Choi Kyung-mook, Director of the Animal Quarantine and Hygiene Division of Gyeonggi Province, urged, "During the Chuseok holiday period, as the number of visitors such as those paying respects at ancestral graves increases, we ask that visitors refrain from entering farms. If visiting farms is unavoidable, please ensure thorough disinfection of both people and vehicles."

Meanwhile, the provincial and city/county livestock quarantine departments plan to form a quarantine task force during the Chuseok holiday period, as the risk of African Swine Fever outbreaks remains high, and will do their utmost in disinfection, surveillance, publicity, and other blocking quarantine measures.