Korea confirms ninth African swine fever case, 3,500 pigs to be culled

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Korea confirms ninth African swine fever case, 3,500 pigs to be culled

Published: 14 Oct. 2024, 10:07

Police officers prevent entry to a pig farm that has been quarantined to prevent the spread of African swine fever to other farms. [YONHAP]

Korea has confirmed its ninth case of African swine fever (ASF) of the year, officials said Sunday.

The latest ASF case was found at a pig farm in Hwacheon, some 88 kilometers (55 miles) northeast of Seoul in Gangwon Province. More than 3,500 pigs at the farm will be slaughtered, according to the farm ministry.

The previous case was detected at a local pig farm in late August.

Authorities are investigating the affected farm and have implemented emergency quarantine measures to prevent ASF from spreading to nearby pig farms. Disinfection operations will be conducted at 233 pig farms in Hwacheon, and neighboring cities and counties, the ministry said.

The ministry said that the culling due to the outbreak at the Hwacheon farm accounts for only 0.03 percent of the country's total pig population, indicating a minimal impact on the local pork market.

ASF does not affect humans but is deadly to pigs. There is currently no vaccine or cure for the disease.

Yonhap