Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Jeonnam Caused by 'Mongolian-Type Virus'... Infection Route Remains Unclear

Province Announces Serological Test Results on the 17th
Virus Similar to One Found in Mongolia in 2021
Infection Routes Such as Human and Vehicle Transmission Under Investigation

Hyunsik Park, Director of the Agriculture, Livestock and Food Bureau of Jeonnam Province, held a press conference on the 17th at the briefing room on the 4th floor of the provincial office to explain the recently occurred foot-and-mouth disease virus. Provided by Jeonnam Province

The foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Yeongam, Jeonnam has been confirmed to be similar to the Mongolian-type virus. However, as the route of virus introduction has not been clearly identified, concerns about further spread are rising.

Park Hyunsik, Director of the Agriculture, Livestock and Food Bureau of Jeonnam Province, held a press conference in the briefing room on the 4th floor of the provincial government building on the 17th and stated, "Serological tests on animals that tested positive for FMD in Yeongam show that the virus is very similar to the FMD virus discovered in Mongolia in 2021."

FMD is classified into seven serotypes, and the virus found in Yeongam has been analyzed as the 'O type' serotype, which mainly occurs in Korea, China, and Vietnam. This differs from the FMD cases that appeared in Cheongju and Jeungpyeong, Chungbuk in 2023.

While the type of virus has been identified, Jeonnam Province explained that the infection route is still under investigation.

Director Park said, "Based on the vehicle movement process raised by some as a possible infection route, it does not seem to be highly related. However, since the possibility of transmission between people or vehicles cannot be completely ruled out, we are still investigating. We are also looking into trading activities at the Ilro Market in Muan." He added, "Since there are various possibilities, including possible lapses in quarantine measures, we are examining the situation from multiple angles."

Meanwhile, since the FMD outbreak at a Hanwoo cattle farm in Dopyo-myeon, Yeongam-gun on the 13th, a total of five confirmed cases (four in Yeongam, one in Muan) have been reported in Jeonnam. A total of about 334 cattle have been culled.