Foot-and-mouth Disease Outbreak Emergency at Three Pig Farms in Muan

Quarantine Authorities Intensify Culling and Disinfection Measures

Three additional cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) have been reported at pig farms located in Muan County, Jeonnam.

According to quarantine authorities on the 15th, on the 14th, four pigs tested positive for FMD at a farm in Dalsan-ri, Mongtan-myeon, and one pig was confirmed to be infected at a farm in Maekpo-ri, Samhyang-eup. At a farm in Gamdon-ri, Illo-eup, five pigs were found to have contracted FMD.

Last month, foot-and-mouth disease occurred at a Hanwoo farm, leading to culling and enhanced disinfection, environmental inspections of epidemiological vehicles, and clinical tests. Provided by reader

At these three farms, the FMD virus was detected during inspections of pig farms within the quarantine zone. Quarantine authorities are conducting partial culling and enhanced disinfection of infected pigs, environmental inspections of epidemiologically related vehicles, and clinical examinations.

Jeonnam had maintained its status as an FMD-free region for 23 years since 2002. However, after the first FMD case was reported at a Hanwoo farm in Yeongam on the 13th of last month, a total of 16 cloven-hoofed animal farms?including 14 Hanwoo farms and 2 pig farms?had reported FMD cases as of the 11th. With these latest cases, the number of FMD-affected farms in Jeonnam has increased to 19.

In Muan County, the first FMD case was reported at a Hanwoo farm in Jijiang-ri, Illo-eup on the 16th of last month. Since then, two additional pig farms nearby reported FMD on the 11th, and three more cases were added on the 14th, indicating a growing outbreak.

Pigs are known to release more FMD antigens than Hanwoo, resulting in a much faster spread of the disease, which has prompted heightened alert among quarantine authorities.