On February 14, an additional case of African swine fever (ASF) was confirmed in Changnyeong County, South Gyeongsang Province, prompting the provincial government and quarantine authorities to launch an all-out response, including culling.
The South Gyeongsang Provincial Government announced that an additional positive case had been confirmed at another pig farm located within the quarantine zone of a pig farm in Changnyeong County where African swine fever was first detected on February 4.
The newly confirmed farm is a breeding-specialized pig farm in Changnyeong-eup that raises 1,951 pigs, where ASF antigens were detected in a carcass during a comprehensive environmental inspection.
A control checkpoint at the entrance of a pig farm in Changnyeong-eup, Changnyeong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, where additional cases of African swine fever (ASF) were confirmed. Photo provided by Gyeongsangnam-do.
Immediately after the confirmation, the provincial government urgently dispatched livestock quarantine officers to the site to control access to the farm and to cull and bury the pigs being raised there.
In addition, the Director General of the Agriculture Bureau visited the site in person to oversee the quarantine situation and encourage those involved.
The province has currently imposed movement restrictions on 14 farms within a 10 km radius of the affected farm.
It plans to complete two rounds of detailed inspections by February 21 and to continue conducting weekly clinical examinations until the movement restrictions are lifted.
Furthermore, the province is mounting an all-out response by installing one additional checkpoint on major roads leading to the affected farm and within the quarantine zone, and by carrying out intensive disinfection on pig farms across the province and on roads in adjacent cities and counties.
On the same day, Governor Park Wansoo ordered, "Implement quarantine measures in accordance with the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), including access control to affected farms, disposal of livestock, and intensive disinfection, without any setbacks."
He also stressed, "Provide thorough training to foreign workers engaged in the livestock industry on prohibiting the bringing of illegal livestock products into farms," and added, "Strictly comply with administrative orders such as banning gatherings and events between pig farmers and farm workers, and prohibiting the bringing in of illegally imported livestock products and items suspected of contamination."
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