January 7, 2010

South Korea reports foot-and-mouth disease outbreak

Just as South Korea grapples with bird flu outbreaks in the country, the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) decided to drop by for a visit - the first time in eight years.

Six out of 185 dairy cows at a farm in Pocheon, about 45 km north of Seoul, tested positive for FMD, said Agriculture Ministry official Lee Chang-Buhm.

Quarantine officials are preparing to slaughter cows, pigs and other animals to stop the spread of the disease, and the culling will begin as soon as possible, said Lee.

The quarantine workers will slaughter 1,500 pigs, 346 dairy cows and several dozens of deer and goats within a 500-metre radius of the site of the disease outbreak to stop the possible spread of FMD.

The government has imposed restrictions on the movement of the animals, and areas within 10 km radius of the outbreak site have been disinfected.

The disease last hit South Korea in 2002, killing about 160,000 pigs.