South Gyeongsang Orders Culling After Swine Fever Case

Authorities in South Gyeongsang Province will cull 3,900 pigs following the confirmation of African swine fever at a farm in Changnyeong County, the provincial government said Wednesday.

Source: koreajoongangdaily

Officials said 2,400 pigs at the infected farm will be culled, along with 1,500 pigs at a nearby farm located about 500 metres away. The farm owner reported the case after pigs died over the past two to three days.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters confirmed the outbreak early Wednesday and ordered a 24-hour suspension of pig transportation. Movement of pig manure was also halted in Changnyeong and surrounding areas, including parts of South and North Gyeongsang provinces and Daegu.

Epidemiological investigation teams were deployed to trace the source of the outbreak. Quarantine teams were also sent to block access to the affected farm and set up checkpoints on major roads.

This is the first confirmed case of African swine fever in South Gyeongsang Province. Nationwide, 62 cases have been reported since the disease was first detected in Korea in 2019, including seven this year.

African swine fever is a viral disease that affects pigs and has no vaccine or treatment.