SEOUL—The Ministry of Agriculture announced on Tuesday that it has ramped up disinfection and vaccination efforts at local farms following new outbreaks of lumpy skin disease and African swine fever (ASF) in South Korea. This action comes as the country grapples with its first case of lumpy skin disease in nine months and the seventh instance of ASF this year.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the first recent case of lumpy skin disease was detected on Monday at a cow farm in Anseong, approximately 65 kilometers south of Seoul. Additionally, a pig farm in Yeongcheon, 246 kilometers southeast of Seoul, confirmed a case of ASF the previous day. In response, the Ministry has launched epidemiological investigations at these farms and implemented standstill orders to prevent further spread.
The containment measures have included the culling of six cows that tested positive for lumpy skin disease and 1,490 pigs to curb ASF spread. The Ministry also plans to complete vaccination efforts against lumpy skin disease in Anseong and nearby regions by Sunday. Vice Agriculture Minister Park Beom-su highlighted the urgency of the situation during an emergency meeting, noting the rapid transmission potential of lumpy skin disease through insects and calling on regional governments to enhance disinfection efforts against ASF, particularly given the increasing incidents among wild boar populations.
Despite these outbreaks, the Ministry assured that the impact on the supply of livestock products is expected to be minimal ahead of the Chuseok holiday in September, attributing this to the low number of affected animals.