African Swine Fever Confirmed at Pig Farm in Boryeong, South Chungcheong Province

The Central Accident Control Headquarters for African Swine Fever (ASF) announced on February 3 that an outbreak of African swine fever had been confirmed at a pig farm in Boryeong-si, South Chungcheong Province, where 3,500 pigs are being raised. This is the sixth outbreak this year, following cases in Gangneung, Gangwon Province; Anseong and Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province; Yeonggwang, South Jeolla Province; and Gochang, North Jeolla Province.

The headquarters confirmed this outbreak in the course of proactive surveillance, which involves testing samples from dead pigs submitted to a private testing agency, and has dispatched an initial quarantine response team and an epidemiological investigation team. Access by outsiders and vehicles to the farm is currently restricted, and the pigs raised on the farm will be culled in accordance with the African Swine Fever Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for emergency response.

In addition, the headquarters issued a 24-hour standstill order, effective until 6 p.m. on February 4, for workers and vehicles associated with livestock-related facilities such as pig farms, slaughterhouses, and feed factories in Boryeong-si and the counties of Hongseong, Cheongyang, Buyeo, and Seocheon.

The headquarters stated, "We will continue to carry out surveillance testing, and if any abnormal signs are detected, we will respond swiftly through on-site, detailed inspections," and urged, "We ask farms to conduct thorough disinfection not only inside and outside their premises but also of workers' accommodations and personal belongings during the intensive disinfection period, which runs until February 8."