On Thursday, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs of South Korea announced that the country has implemented more stringent quarantine procedures to prevent the spread of African swine fever (ASF) following the discovery of the disease in wild boars in the south.
In response to the seven cases of ASF reported last week in North Gyeongsang Province, an emergency meeting was held Wednesday to discuss joint countermeasures. The government has decided to increase the efforts of hunting wild boars and searching for infected animals.
Furthermore, the ministry has intensified the monitoring of local farms and improved disinfection strategies. ASF is fatal to pigs, but harmless to humans, and there is currently no vaccine or cure. South Korea has identified at least nine ASF cases at pig farms this year.
This file photo, provided by the southwestern county of Imsil on Aug. 31, 2023, shows quarantine officials conducting a drill on responses to African swine fever. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
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