A warning sign that bans entry to a farm infected with African swine fever on Ganghwa Island, some 60 kilometers west of Seoul, on Sept. 27, 2019. (Yonhap)
SEJONG, Sept. 27 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korean quarantine authorities are working hard to trace the source of the African swine fever that struck early this month as the country confirmed its ninth African swine fever (ASF) case, sparking concerns over a possibly massive spread of the deadly animal virus near the inter-Korean border.
The latest case was reported on Ganghwa Island, part of the city of Incheon, some 60 kilometers west of Seoul, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said Friday.
So far, five out of the nine confirmed cases have come from Ganghwa, making it the most vulnerable region. The last ASF case outside of Ganghwa was verified on Tuesday.
The first-ever case of the deadly pig disease in the country was reported on Sept. 17. All confirmed cases so far have been in inter-Korean border areas.
Later Friday, a farm with 570 pigs in Yangju, some 30 km north of Seoul, reported a suspected case, saying it slaughtered one pig, the ministry said.
If confirmed, it would mark the 10th ASF case confirmed in the country.
On Thursday, the ministry extended a movement ban for all pig farms, slaughterhouses and related facilities across the country through Saturday to prevent the spread of ASF.
The virus is harmless to humans but is highly contagious and fatal for pigs.
There is no cure or vaccine, and the only known way to prevent the disease from spreading is the culling of affected livestock or animals that were likely exposed to the virus.
As of Friday morning, South Korea had culled nearly 30,000 pigs, with more than 60,000 animals set to be slaughtered in total, according to the ministry.
The figure is set to increase further when more ASF cases are confirmed.
All parts of Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, along with the neighboring Gangwon Province, have been designated as tightly controlled zones subject to more stringent disinfection operations and checkups.
Vehicles involved in the livestock industry in northern Gyeonggi Province are also banned from traveling outside of the areas.
Military officials roll out quarantine operations in Inje, 165 kilometers east of Seoul, on Sept. 27, 2019, amid the growing concerns over a nationwide spread of African swine fever in the country. (image: ROK Army)
As the incubation period of ASF is up to 19 days, experts say South Korea may suffer a sharp increase in the number of ASF cases in the northern areas.
Quarantine officials have yet to determine what caused the outbreak in the country, but there is the probability that the deadly virus might have come from North Korea, or been brought in by wild boars.
The confirmed cases in South Korea came roughly four months after North Korea reported its outbreak of the disease to the World Organization for Animal Health from its border with China in May.
Earlier this week, South Korea’s spy agency said pigs have been “wiped out” due to the disease in the North’s northwestern Pyongan Province.
The farm ministry said it also identified some vehicles visiting multiple infected farms, although it cannot jump to the conclusion that they were responsible for the spread of the disease.
They are finding hurdles in determining how the virus reached Seogmo Island, a small, isolated part of Ganghwa, where South Korea’s seventh ASF case was found.
The farm with the seventh ASF case has been virtually closed, raising only two pigs. There were also no records of automobiles involved in the livestock industry visiting the area.
The environment ministry also said Friday it has not found any traces of the deadly virus from water samples gathered from rivers near North Korea.
(Yonhap)
