“Foot-and-Mouth Disease Outbreak at Korean Hanwoo Farms”

◀ Anchor ▶

Foot-and-mouth disease occurred at three Hanwoo farms in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do.

It has occurred in about 4 years in Korea, but the government has buried and disposed of the farm cows and issued an order to stop moving cattle farm vehicles nationwide.

Reporter Park Jin-jun reports.

◀ Report ▶

Following yesterday’s two Korean beef farms in Cheongju, Chungcheongbuk-do, an additional foot-and-mouth disease was confirmed at a nearby Korean beef farm today.

It is the first time in four years since January 2019 that foot-and-mouth disease has occurred in Korea.

The quarantine authorities, including the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, held an emergency meeting and dispatched an initial quarantine team and an epidemiological investigation team.

In addition, we plan to cull 360 cows raised at two farms where foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed, and we are conducting epidemiological investigations on additional confirmed farms.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious disease caused by infection of cattle and pigs with the foot-and-mouth disease virus.

To prevent further spread, the government issued a temporary suspension order for vehicles at livestock farms and slaughterhouses nationwide for 48 hours from 0:00 today.

In addition, it is a policy to intensively disinfect farms and surrounding roads in seven cities and counties, including Cheongju and neighboring Cheonan, Boeun, and Goesan.

The quarantine authorities have asked farms in other regions to follow quarantine rules such as disinfection and wearing protective clothing.

As foot-and-mouth disease broke out in our farmhouse for the first time in four years, it became difficult to recognize the status of a country free from foot-and-mouth disease, which the government applied for last year.

As a result, domestic livestock farmers’ meat exports are also expected to suffer.

In addition, if foot-and-mouth disease spreads further, there are concerns that the quarantine of livestock farms across the country will be strengthened and distribution will be temporarily disrupted, resulting in a temporary rise in beef and pork prices.

This is Park Jin-joon from MBC News.