"Comprehensive Review of Quarantine Systems and Complete Prevention of Further Spread"
"Completely re-examine the existing quarantine system and block any possibility of further spread at every stage, from feed production to feeding."
With African swine fever (ASF) consecutively breaking out in Changnyeong, Uiryeong, and now Hapcheon within Gyeongnam Province, Governor Park Wansu issued an urgent special directive.
According to Gyeongnam Province on February 27, the first ASF case of the year in the province was reported in Changnyeong on February 4. This was followed by another pig farm in Changnyeong on February 14, a farm in Uiryeong on February 23, and a farm in Hapcheon on February 26.
Emergency quarantine is being conducted at the African swine fever outbreak site in Hapcheon County, Gyeongsangnam-do. Photo by Gyeongsangnam-do
With ASF confirmed at four farms in three cities and counties within a month, Governor Park ordered through a special directive, "Inspect and reinforce each vulnerable point that can be easily overlooked, such as farm fences, livestock barn entrances, and vehicle disinfection."
He also instructed that quarantine measures under the emergency standard operating procedures (SOP), such as restricting access to farms, urgent livestock culling, and intensive disinfection, be thoroughly implemented in affected areas including Hapcheon County.
Additionally, he recommended that all cities and counties suspend the feeding of pig blood-derived proteins in feed and notify farms of this policy.
He further urged authorities to focus on remedying inadequate quarantine measures, such as damaged external farm fences or livestock barn back doors left open, and to strictly control and strengthen disinfection so that vehicles that do not pass through designated disinfection facilities are not allowed to enter farms.
He called for strict adherence to administrative orders prohibiting gatherings or events among pig farm workers and banning the introduction of potentially contaminated items such as illegally imported livestock products.
He also asked that surveillance and monitoring of livestock infectious diseases be strengthened, and that emergency work shifts continue to maintain an early detection system.
An outbreak of African swine fever occurred at a pig farm in Uiryeong County, Gyeongnam Province, prompting emergency quarantine measures and culling of livestock. Provided by Gyeongnam Province
Earlier, in the course of an epidemiological investigation by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, feed in which the ASF gene was detected was identified as one of the major routes of spread. Consequently, the province recommended suspending the use of such feed and swiftly completed recall and disposal measures.
To prevent the spread of the virus through feed, Gyeongnam Province expanded inspections across the entire process of feed production and distribution within the province and began a comprehensive review.
Gyeongnam Province is also simultaneously deploying special judicial police to crack down on illegal imported livestock products and conduct collection inspections.
Jang Youngwook, Director General of Agricultural Policy for Gyeongnam Province, urged, "To block the spread of ASF, pig farms in the province must strictly cooperate in controlling external access, disinfection, and the elimination of illegal imported food purchases."
Gyeongnam Province announced that it would concentrate all its resources on preventing the spread of ASF under the principle of "zero tolerance for any loopholes in quarantine."
Looking ahead, the province plans to operate a real-time management system across all stages of feed production, distribution, and feeding; continuously inspect whether farms are implementing quarantine barriers; and, in the event of any suspected case, immediately conduct detailed tests and impose movement restrictions, thereby strengthening preemptive measures to swiftly block additional outbreaks.
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