(ATTN: UPDATES with confirmed cases in first 2 paras; CHANGES headline, photos)
South Korea has tallied 27 cases of lumpy skin disease in cattle, authorities reported on Tuesday, as they continue to combat the spread of the animal infection.
The nation initially encountered the disease last Friday, and the number of confirmed cases has since grown.
Officials spray disinfectants at a farm in Pohang, 262 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on October 24, 2023. (Yonhap)
Health officials have begun vaccinating the animals in the affected areas. Agriculture Minister Chung Hwang-keun has said that it may take three weeks for vaccinated cattle to develop antibodies against the virus.
The disease, which does not harm humans, is a highly contagious illness that causes skin lesions, fever, and a loss of appetite, often leading to a decrease in milk production and even death. It is transmitted to cattle and buffalo through mosquitoes and other blood-feeding insects.
An official disinfects a vehicle at a facility in Hwasun, 283 kilometers south of Seoul, on Oct. 24, 2023. (Yonhap)
colin@yna.co.kr
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