Over 900 pigs culled in foot-and-mouth outbreak

Foot-and-mouth disease has struck a pig farm near Seoul, officials confirmed Tuesday, leading quarantine officials to slaughter more than 900 animals.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Tuesday that a rare A-type virus form of the disease was found in Gimpo, 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) northwest from the capital city.

The farm on Monday reported a suspected case, and the sick pig tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease.

Following the initial test, quarantine officials limited the movement of animals and livestock breeders in the nearby region for 48 hours and culled over 900 pigs at the affected farm as preventive measures, the ministry said.

It is the first time that the nation has confirmed a swine foot-and-mouth disease case with the rare A virus type.

It is the first time that any form of the highly infectious animal disease has been detected at a pig farm since the last case in South Chungcheong two years ago. Several cases were found at cow farms in the central region in February 2017.

Foot-and-mouth disease is an acute infectious viral disease of livestock that causes fever followed by the development of vesicles, chiefly in the mouth and on the feet. It is one of the most infectious diseases for livestock and can spread rapidly if uncontrolled.It affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, camels, sheep, goats and pigs, and is prevalent in springtime.

Yonhap