On Monday, authorities stated that the government intends to finish the vaccination of all cattle in the nation by Nov. 10, as health officials are striving to prevent the transmission of lumpy skin disease (LSD).
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs revealed that South Korea has already distributed vaccines for 2.43 million cattle, with an additional shipment of 2.1 million doses arriving on Tuesday.
Up to now, South Korea has confirmed 61 cases of LSD since the first-ever outbreak of the viral infection on Oct. 20. Additionally, four suspected cases are being investigated.
The number of cattle that have been or will be culled has reached 4,107.
Experts anticipate that the number of cases will likely increase in the near future, as it takes approximately three weeks for vaccinated cattle to develop antibodies against the disease.
LSD, which does not affect humans, is a highly contagious infection 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 through mosquitoes and other blood-sucking insects.
Cattle wait to be vaccinated at a farm in Seosan, 98 kilometers southwest of Seoul, on Oct. 23, 2023. (Yonhap)
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