"Devastating Blow Before Lunar New Year Shipments" Another ASF Case in Pocheon...Culling of 8,500 Pigs Puts Livestock Industry on High Alert

Pocheon City Confirms African Swine Fever at Pig Farm
Mayor Paek Yeonghyun Orders "Swift and Strict Response"
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"Absolutely No Entry to Livestock Farms When Visiting Hometowns"

With ten days left before Lunar New Year, Korea's biggest traditional holiday, an additional case of African swine fever (ASF) has been confirmed at a pig farm in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, putting livestock authorities and local farms on high alert. As this confirmation has come right before the peak holiday season, concerns are mounting not only about disruptions to local livestock supply but also about the risk of nationwide spread driven by population movement during the holidays.

Baek Younghyun, mayor of Pocheon, is personally inspecting the on-site response at a pig farm in the area where African swine fever (ASF) occurred on the morning of the 7th. Provided by Pocheon City

Pocheon City launched an emergency response after a pig farm within its jurisdiction tested positive for ASF on February 6. This farm is located only about 800 meters from the farm where the first case occurred on January 24, and the infection was confirmed through testing conducted just before shipment.

Immediately after the confirmation, Pocheon City, in cooperation with the Central Accident Management Headquarters, promptly deployed an initial quarantine team to the site. In addition, in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for emergency action, the city is swiftly carrying out culling and burial operations for 8,520 pigs being raised at the affected farm.

Pocheon City is restricting access to the pig farm after African swine fever (ASF) was confirmed at the farm on the morning of the 7th. Provided by Pocheon City

The city has set up control checkpoints around the affected farm and is strictly regulating the movement of vehicles and personnel. It has also issued movement restriction orders for farms that have epidemiological links with the affected farm, as well as for shipping slaughterhouses and related vehicles.

The Central Epidemiological Investigation Team of the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency is currently conducting an in-depth epidemiological investigation into the movement routes of the affected farm and the possibility of external introduction of the virus. Taking particular account of the strong survivability of the virus in winter, the city is reinforcing its quarantine network by conducting intensive disinfection every day on roads near the outbreak area and on access roads leading to farms.

Pocheon-si is making every effort to disinfect the pig farm where African swine fever (ASF) occurred on the 7th. Photo by Pocheon-si

On the morning of February 7, Paek Yeonghyun, mayor of Pocheon, visited the affected farm to personally inspect the on-site response. Mayor Paek said, "The speed of the initial response is more important than anything else in preventing further spread," and instructed the relevant departments "to spare no administrative support so that culling and quarantine measures can be carried out without delay."

An official from Pocheon City said, "We have sent out notices on compliance with quarantine guidelines to all pig farms within the jurisdiction," and stressed, "If farm owners detect any suspicious symptoms, they should report them immediately, strictly control access by outsiders, and thoroughly implement basic quarantine measures such as changing boots."