November 11, 2022

First African swine fever case detected in South Korea in two months

South Korea's Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said they have detected the first case of African swine fever (ASF) in two months north of the country, with 5,499 swine culled to prevent the spread of the disease, Yonhap News Agency reported.

ASF was detected at a swine farm in Cheorwon, about 71 km northeast of Seoul. The disease was first confirmed at a farm in Chuncheon city, Gangwon, in September, according to the ministry.

The authorities have ordered a 24-hour standstill in the northern part of Gangwon and the neighbouring Gyeonggi Provinces. They are also slaughtering 5,499 pigs raised there as a preventative measure. It added that Thursday.

59 nearby farms will be thoroughly inspected by the authorities. The ministry said there were 24 swine farms within a 10-kilometer radius of the impacted farm, and they collectively raise about 62,000 pigs.

The ministry said South Korea's supply of pork is unlikely to be impacted by the current ASF situation.

-      Yonhap News Agency