Rapid Increase in Detection of ASF Virus in Wild Boars... Government Conducts Special Inspection of Quarantine Management Practices

521 Cases of Wild Boar ASF Detected This Year Alone

As the number of African Swine Fever (ASF) virus detections in wild boars has recently surged, the government is launching a special joint inspection on quarantine practices with related agencies.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA) announced on the 23rd that, together with the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, it will conduct a joint government special inspection targeting 12 cities and counties in border areas by the 26th.

According to MAFRA, the number of ASF detections in wild boars last year was 735 cases. This year, 131 cases were detected in January, 108 in February, 158 in March, and 124 cases up to the 21st of April, totaling 521 cases.

This inspection will be carried out by forming six teams with 13 inspectors from MAFRA, the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, and local governments. They will inspect ASF quarantine management in 12 cities and counties across four provinces. Among these, eight cities and counties including Paju, Gimpo, Yeoncheon, and Pocheon in Gyeonggi Province, and Cheorwon in Gangwon Province are considered high-risk areas for Lumpy Skin Disease, where vaccination and other quarantine management measures will be inspected concurrently.

MAFRA and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety are regularly conducting joint inspections to raise quarantine awareness among local governments and farms, focusing on areas with a high risk of ASF outbreaks on farms.

In particular, considering that early vaccination against Lumpy Skin Disease is underway in April in high-risk areas, the inspection will simultaneously monitor ASF and Lumpy Skin Disease quarantine management.

The inspection teams will first check ASF quarantine management measures such as surveillance, inspection, publicity, and disinfection support for pig farms in the targeted cities and counties, operation of key disinfection facilities, and strengthened quarantine measures following the implementation of a single control zone. They will also inspect Lumpy Skin Disease quarantine management, including cattle farm inspections, education, publicity, vaccination management, and pest control and disinfection support.

After the city and county inspections, the teams will visit farms to check the installation and operation of quarantine and disinfection facilities at pig farms, compliance with quarantine rules, and the status of Lumpy Skin Disease vaccination, vector insect control, and disinfection preparations at cattle farms. Any deficiencies will be corrected or supplemented, and farms violating regulations will face administrative measures.

Choi Jeong-rok, Director of the Quarantine Policy Bureau at MAFRA, stated, “This year, aiming to minimize ASF outbreaks on farms and prevent Lumpy Skin Disease occurrence, MAFRA and the Ministry of the Interior and Safety are strengthening their organic cooperation system and focusing all efforts on management and supervision of local governments and farms. We urge all local governments and farms nationwide not to lower their guard and to do their best in proactive quarantine measures.”