Daily Emergency Quarantine Meetings Led by the Mayor
Operation of Control Posts, Distribution of Vaccines and Disinfectants
On the 18th, Mayor Byungtae Yoon of Naju City inspected the foot-and-mouth disease quarantine post in Bannam-myeon, encouraged the workers for their efforts, and urged thorough quarantine measures. Photo by Naju City
Naju City in South Jeolla Province is joining forces to implement strict quarantine measures to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
According to the livestock quarantine authorities in Naju on the 18th, an outbreak of FMD was reported at a Hanwoo cattle farm in Yeongam County on the 14th. Since then, the disease has spread to Muan County, with a total of eight confirmed cases to date.
As Naju is adjacent to the affected areas, the city has assessed the risk of disease introduction and spread as extremely high and is maintaining a thorough quarantine posture.
Since the 14th, Naju Mayor Yoon Byungtae has been presiding over daily emergency quarantine meetings to closely monitor the situation. The city is operating two main disinfection facilities around the clock and has set up control posts for vehicle disinfection in Bannam, Donggang, and Seji-myeon, which are adjacent to the outbreak areas, to ensure thorough quarantine measures.
On the morning of the 18th, Mayor Yoon visited the Bannam-myeon control post (photo) to encourage staff and emphasized the heavy responsibility of frontline workers in blocking the introduction and spread of FMD.
Meanwhile, on the day of the first outbreak on the 14th, Naju City quickly secured FMD vaccines, and as of the 17th, had completed 100% vaccination for all 1,563 farms (246,190 animals).
The overall vaccination rate for cloven-hoofed animals is about 76%, with cattle reaching 98%. All vaccinations are expected to be completed by the 18th. In addition, vaccination has been completed for 191 farms (17,023 animals) within a 10km radius of the outbreak area, and a seven-day supply of disinfectant, necessary for antibody formation, has also been distributed.
Twelve disinfection vehicles are being deployed three times a day on 15 key road sections between major roads and farms near Yeongam and Muan, where livestock vehicles frequently travel. The city is also regularly sharing FMD updates with livestock associations and farms via local broadcasts and mass text messages, urging cooperation with disinfection at each farm.
Mayor Yoon stated, "Following two consecutive years without highly pathogenic avian influenza, thorough quarantine is more important than ever to maintain our FMD-free status. I urge not only cattle, pig, goat, and deer farms but also citizens to refrain from visiting outbreak areas as much as possible and to actively cooperate with quarantine measures."
FMD is a legally designated infectious disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, and deer, caused by exposure to the FMD virus. With a fatality rate ranging from 5% to 75%, strict quarantine is essential. The disease is mainly transmitted through respiratory secretions or excrement, and the virus can spread dozens of kilometers by wind, making thorough farm-level quarantine crucial.
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