March 1, 2007

South Korea takes steps against foot-and-mouth disease

South Korea said on February 28 it will implement measures to prevent an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the coming months as the plague recently hit China and Vietnam.

The measures, to be implemented from March through May, include tightening inspections of travellers and goods at international air and sea terminals and decontamination of imported feed, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry said.

It added that farmers will be asked to take steps to regularly decontaminate cloven-hoofed animals.

The ministry said spring is the most vulnerable time because of an increase in people and trade. Direct contact between animals can spread the disease and it can be carried through the air and on clothing.

Foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious and affects cattle, pigs, deer, goats and sheep. The disease causes blisters on the mouth and feet of livestock and leads to death. It is rarely transmitted to humans.

Officials said prevention is most important but if a case is discovered, the government will destroy sick animals and the region will be quarantined.

South Korea was hit by the disease in 2000 and 2002. In 2000, the losses reached 300 billion won (US$318 million), while the 2002 outbreak cost 150 billion won.

Sixteen countries have reported the disease in 2006, down from 37 the previous year.