South completes quarantine of pigs around border area

South Korea has completed quarantine measures against African swine fever virus in regions bordering North Korea, which reported a recent outbreak of the contagious animal disease, the Agriculture Ministry said Sunday.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said it conducted disinfection at hog farms located south of the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas from June 5 to Friday, after the North confirmed an outbreak of the virus on May 30.

The ministry said blood tests of pigs from about 600 farms were negative for the virus, noting it will additionally carry out tests on 35 hog farms and continue quarantine efforts.

Pyongyang reported a confirmed case of the animal disease at a pig farm in a region bordering China to the World Organisation for Animal Health last month.

The animal disease outbreak is feared to add to the already strained food supply in the impoverished state by possibly devastating its livestock industry.

YONHAP