SEOUL — The government aims to finish vaccinating cattle across the country by November 10 in an effort to control the spread of lumpy skin disease (LSD), officials reported on Monday.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Food and Rural Affairs, South Korea has already distributed vaccines to 2.43 million cattle. An additional batch of 2.1 million doses is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday. Since the first outbreak of this viral infection on October 20, South Korea has confirmed 64 LSD cases, including three new ones on Monday. Investigations into four other suspected cases are ongoing.
Health authorities expect the number of confirmed cases to increase in the short term, given that it takes approximately three weeks for vaccinated cattle to develop protective antibodies against LSD.
The government also announced plans to inoculate all cattle nationwide next year, considering that the vaccine's immunity lasts for roughly one year.
LSD is a highly contagious disease that affects cattle and buffalo but does not pose a risk to humans. The disease is transmitted through mosquitoes and other blood-feeding insects and causes symptoms such as skin lesions, fever, and loss of appetite in the affected animals. These symptoms often result in decreased milk production and could lead to death.