SEOUL, Nov. 8 (Yonhap) — South Korea’s agricultural ministry declared Wednesday that 98 percent of bovines in the nation have been vaccinated against lumpy skin disease (LSD).
The administration has inoculated more than 3.9 million out of the country’s 4.08 million cows so far to protect them from LSD, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
The government initiated the intensive vaccination effort last month after reporting its first-ever case of LSD on Oct. 20 under the plan to immunize all cattle by Friday.
It takes roughly three weeks for cattle to create antibodies.
The country has since confirmed 84 cases nationwide, including three from Tuesday, and authorities are conducting an in-depth analysis of four suspected cases, the ministry said.
The disease, which does not affect humans, is a highly contagious illness that causes skin lesions, fever and loss of appetite, often leading to a decrease in milk production and even death.
It affects cattle and buffalo via mosquitoes and other blood-feeding insects.
Officials vaccinate cattle at a farm in Gyeongsan, 250 kilometers south of Seoul, on Nov. 1, 2023. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
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