February 15, 2011

South Korea mulls on biannual FMD vaccinations

The South Korean government is reviewing on the inoculation of cattle and pigs against FMD every six months.

A National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) official said that in order for South Korea to recover the status of an FMD-free nation, the government is reviewing the plan until the FMD virus is completely eradicated from the nation.

The official said that the vaccination of FMD was widespread in South Korea, making a policy change unavoidable in order to reclaim the status of an FMD-free nation.

This is due to the World Organisation for Animal Health, or the OIE, categorising FMD nations into nations that practice vaccinations and nations that do not.

The government is currently in its second round of vaccinations on cattle and pigs around the nation until the end of February, and will conduct another round of vaccinations six months later.