Data from Seoul’s monitoring program shows zoonotic diseases have been absent from the city since 2012. (Image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Apr. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The South Korean capital has announced plans to test hundreds of abandoned animals in the city for infections.
The Seoul Metropolitan Government said on Sunday it will test up to 1,500 animals including stray cats, abandoned animals and pets as part of efforts to control the spread of zoonotic diseases.
The South Korean capital has announced plans to test hundreds of abandoned animals in the city for infections. (Image: Yonhap)
No new cases of rabies – one of the most common zoonotic diseases – have been reported in South Korea since 2014. Since 2006, when the rabies virus was detected in a wild raccoon, Seoul has been free from the disease.
On the other hand, there were five animals infected with anaplasmosis last year, but there were no signs of a pandemic, according to city authorities.
Data from Seoul’s monitoring program shows zoonotic diseases have been absent from the city since 2012.
“The health of pets can directly affect the well-being of citizens. That’s why we need to vaccinate dogs for rabies, care for pets instead of abandoning them, and take responsibility for their life,” a senior official at Seoul’s public health department said.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
