African Swine Fever (ASF)
Increase in Piglet Death Reports Compared to Previous Years
"Possibility of Virus Introduction Through Contaminated Feed"
First Detection of ASF Genes in Feed Ingredients
Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency Rel
The African Swine Fever (ASF) gene has been detected in feed ingredients in South Korea for the first time. The government assumes that pig blood contaminated with ASF entered the feed supply chain.
On February 20, the ASF Central Disaster Management Headquarters announced that it had reviewed the current ASF outbreak situation and the results of epidemiological investigations, and that it is implementing quarantine measures to prevent further spread.
The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency is conducting epidemiological investigations into various risk factors, including items brought onto farms, farm workers, and illegal livestock products, to determine the causes of sporadic African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreaks nationwide. Photo by Getty Images
Since ASF first broke out in Gangneung, Gangwon Province, on January 16 this year, a total of 18 cases have occurred as of February 19 in Hwaseong and Pyeongtaek in Gyeonggi Province, and Cheorwon in Gangwon Province. To prevent additional ASF outbreaks, the Central Disaster Management Headquarters is carrying out quarantine measures such as culling and disinfection at affected farms, movement restrictions on farms in quarantine zones and farms epidemiologically linked to outbreaks, as well as surveillance and testing.
The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency is conducting epidemiological investigations into various risk factors, including items brought onto farms, farm workers, and illegal livestock products, to determine the causes of sporadic ASF outbreaks nationwide. This year, unlike in the past, there has been an increase in reports of deaths among piglets at ASF-affected farms, so the authorities are focusing their investigations on feed containing pig plasma protein that was fed to piglets, as well as on feed manufacturing (supply) companies and feed ingredient manufacturers.
During the focused investigation, ASF genes were detected in two retained samples among those that a feed ingredient (pig plasma protein) manufacturer had submitted to a feed ingredient testing agency. An official from the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency explained, "Additional experiments are needed to determine whether the virus is infectious," and added, "It is presumed that pig blood contaminated with ASF entered the feed supply chain, and the possibility of ASF introduction through the supply of contaminated feed has been confirmed."
Based on these interim epidemiological findings, the Central Disaster Management Headquarters has first instructed local government livestock quarantine officers to order owners of feed in which ASF genes were detected at pig farms to incinerate or bury the relevant products in accordance with the Act on the Prevention of Contagious Animal Diseases and its subordinate statutes.
In addition, as ASF genes have been detected in feed ingredients, the Central Disaster Management Headquarters plans, pursuant to the Act on the Prevention of Contagious Animal Diseases and its subordinate statutes, to disclose on the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency website information such as the production date and time and raw material components related to the ASF gene detection, together with information on the affected farms, and to recommend, as a preventive measure, that pig farms nationwide stop using the relevant feed.
Furthermore, authorities are conducting simultaneous inspections at pig farms across the country. If a pig farm is found to have used the feed ingredients in which ASF genes were detected, that farm will be prioritized for testing, and measures will be taken to prevent further spread.
Park Junghoon, policy chief for food and grain at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "This is the first time in South Korea that ASF genes have been detected in feed ingredients, and it is presumed that pig blood contaminated with ASF entered the feed supply chain," adding, "We will take swift action in accordance with the relevant regulations regarding the feed ingredients and related products in question."
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