Gyeonggi Province Issues 'Standstill Order' Amid ASF Outbreak
Quarantine Measures Intensified After First Case Confirmed in Anseong
With consecutive cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) confirmed at pig farms in Anseong and Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, the quarantine authorities have been placed on high alert.
In particular, emergency quarantine measures are underway in the Anseong area, where there has been no previous record of virus detection, to prevent the spread to the southern part of Gyeonggi Province ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday.
According to Gyeonggi Province on January 26, a report of pig deaths was received on January 23 at a farm in Miyang-myeon, Anseong City (raising approximately 2,500 pigs), and an in-depth inspection confirmed ASF positivity. The following day, on January 24, another confirmed case was reported at a farm in Pocheon City (raising approximately 8,500 pigs).
In response, Gyeonggi Province and the Central Accident Response Headquarters for African Swine Fever (Central Headquarters) immediately deployed initial quarantine teams to cull the pigs at the affected farms and issued a Standstill Order for Anseong, Pocheon, and neighboring cities and counties (including Pyeongtaek, Yongin, and Icheon).
The quarantine authorities are particularly focused on the occurrence in Anseong.
Until now, ASF cases have mostly occurred in areas bordering North Korea or in regions where wild boars have tested positive. However, this time, the outbreak occurred in Anseong, where there has been no record of wild boar detection in the past year. This suggests the possibility that the virus may have already spread widely through farm workers, vehicles, or other means.
Gyeonggi Province believes that the risk of further spread is extremely high due to the surge in the movement of people and vehicles during the Lunar New Year holiday period, and has strongly urged all pig farms in the province to strictly comply with the 'essential quarantine guidelines'.
First, the outdoor activities of foreign workers should be minimized, and entry to the farm should be restricted immediately after any outing. When entering the farm, workers must wear dedicated work clothes and boots, and disinfect both hands and boots. If there is a history of overseas travel, entry to the farm must be restricted for a certain period. In addition, the movement routes between worker accommodations and livestock facilities must be strictly separated.
All vehicles entering the farm, including those for feed delivery, shipment, manure, and consulting, must be disinfected, and fixed or mobile disinfection facilities should be used before and after entry. Measures should be taken to prevent disinfection facilities from freezing during the winter, inspections should be strengthened, vehicle entry into the farm should be minimized, and movement outside designated areas should be prohibited.
When entering the farm, it is mandatory to change into work clothes and boots and disinfect hands in the anteroom, and in principle, outsiders should not be allowed entry. If entry is unavoidable, a log must be kept and thorough disinfection must be carried out. Internal and external areas of the farm should be managed separately to prevent cross-contamination.
Facilities to block access by wild boars, such as fences and barriers, must be maintained at all times. In particular, it is important to thoroughly prevent rodents, which are major carriers of livestock infectious disease viruses, from entering barns, and to remove hiding places for wild animals by mowing and cleaning the area around the farm.
If any suspected symptoms of ASF are detected, such as pig deaths, loss of appetite, or high fever, they must be reported to the quarantine authorities immediately. Any delay or concealment in reporting will result in strict action in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
Lee Kangyoung, Director of the Livestock and Animal Welfare Bureau of Gyeonggi Province, stated, "The recent cold wave has increased the survival and transmission potential of the virus outdoors, while making disinfection more difficult, creating a very challenging environment for quarantine. With the Lunar New Year holiday approaching and increased movement of people and vehicles, the risk of ASF spreading has become even higher. Pig farmers must recognize that even minor lapses in quarantine can lead to devastating consequences, and I urge everyone to strictly follow the quarantine guidelines."
Gyeonggi Province plans to continuously strengthen surveillance, disinfection, and on-site inspections to prevent the spread of ASF, and will respond strictly to any violations of quarantine guidelines in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.
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