December 10, 2009

Prevention is better than the cure for South Korea

South Korea will strengthen measures to prevent outbreaks of livestock epidemics that could hurt its farming sector, government officials said Wednesday (Dec 9).

The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said year-round outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), swine fever and bird flu in China, Mongolia and Vietnam make it imperative to enhance testing and vaccinations.

Livestock epidemics cause large numbers of animals to be culled, leading to a drop in earnings for farmers and affecting livestock consumption as consumers tend to stay away from meat.

The ministry plans to distribute the latest of its "rapid kits," which farmers and animal health inspectors use to check for contaminations in the field, and promote the use of the so-called reverse genetics drug development process to speed up vaccine production.

South Korean laboratories have developed rapid kits for types A, Asia 1 and O FMDs, as well as swine fever this year.

The ministry added that while no animal vaccines have been made for the AH1N1 flu virus affecting both humans and animals, research to develop anti-viral drugs for pigs is underway. The AH1N1 strain is a mix of the bird and swine flu viruses.

To enhance epidemic controls, Seoul plans to work with laboratories in countries like Vietnam and the Global Foot-and mouth disease Research Alliance made up of 12 countries to better exchange information and engage in joint research and development projects.