First African Swine Fever (ASF) Case in Gyeongsangnam-do at Changnyeong... Province Culls 3,900 Pigs and Launches Emergency Quarantine

African swine fever (ASF) has broken out this year for the first time in the province at a pig farm in Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, prompting the provincial government to move to block its spread.

Gyeongsangnam-do announced on February 4 that African swine fever had been confirmed at a pig farm in Changnyeong-gun where pig deaths occurred between February 2 and 3.

In response, the province imposed movement controls on livestock and people at the affected farm and took emergency quarantine measures, including dispatching an initial quarantine team to disinfect the inside and outside of the farm and surrounding areas.

In addition, 2,400 pigs raised at the affected farm and 1,500 pigs at one nearby farm located within a 500-meter radius were rapidly culled.

Starting at 2:30 a.m. on this day, February 4, and lasting for 24 hours, a temporary standstill order was issued for pigs, related livestock facilities, and vehicles at pig farms, slaughterhouses, and feed factories in five cities and counties adjacent to Changnyeong-gun: Miryang, Changwon, Haman, Uiryeong, Hapcheon, as well as Dalseong-gun in Daegu, and Cheongdo and Goryeong in Gyeongsangbuk-do.

Gyeongsangnam-do livestock quarantine vehicle. Provided by Gyeongsangnam-do

The area within a 10-kilometer radius of the affected farm has now been designated as a quarantine zone, where movement restrictions, intensive disinfection, and detailed testing are being carried out to prevent the spread of the disease for 13 farms with approximately 38,000 pigs.

In addition, the province plans to mobilize all available resources from joint quarantine teams, livestock cooperatives, and cities and counties to conduct an epidemiological investigation, identify the route of infection, and focus all efforts on quarantine and disinfection to prevent further spread.

Jeong Changgeun, head of the Animal Quarantine Division, reiterated his appeal, saying, "Since cases have now occurred in our province following Boryeong in South Chungcheong Province, blocking further spread is more important than anything else. Pig farms must strictly control access by outsiders and thoroughly carry out disinfection, and they need to take special care to prevent the introduction of contaminants through foreign workers. If any abnormal signs are detected, please report them immediately so that we do not miss the golden time."

African swine fever is a type 1 viral livestock infectious disease that affects domestic pigs and wild boars, is highly contagious, and has a mortality rate of up to 100 percent.

Symptoms include high fever, loss of appetite, inability to stand, vomiting, hemorrhaging, and death. It is not transmitted to humans, but there is still no vaccine or treatment.

Previously, in November last year, the Central Disaster Management Headquarters raised the African swine fever alert level for pig farms in all regions nationwide to "serious" and has been conducting inspections of quarantine conditions.