A foot-and-mouth disease outbreak occurred domestically for the first time in about two years. Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious livestock disease that occurs when ruminants, such as cattle, pigs, and goats, are infected by a virus, and it is designated as a Class 1 livestock infectious disease in the country.
On the 14th, the Central Accident Management Headquarters (CAMH) for foot-and-mouth disease announced that the disease was confirmed at a Korean cattle farm in Yeongam County, South Korea. This is the first occurrence of foot-and-mouth disease since May 2023, approximately 1 year and 10 months ago.
The headquarters has dispatched initial quarantine teams and epidemiological investigation teams to the affected farm to control access to the farm and conduct epidemiological investigations. Approximately 180 Korean cattle being raised at this farm are scheduled to be culled in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs).
In addition, the government raised the crisis warning level from 'concern' to 'serious' for seven cities and counties adjacent to Yeongam County, including Gangjin, Naju, Mokpo, Muan, Jangheung, Haenam, and Hwasun, due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. The crisis warning level for other regions was also elevated to 'caution.'
To prevent horizontal transmission between farms, the headquarters issued a temporary movement stop order for all livestock industry personnel and vehicles across the country until 8 a.m. on the 16th. Additionally, they plan to conduct vaccinations and clinical examinations for livestock, totaling 1,157,000 animals, in 9,216 ruminant farms in the seven cities and counties adjacent to Yeongam County.
Vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease will also be expedited. The government has decided to conduct foot-and-mouth disease vaccinations for cattle and goats nationwide, originally scheduled for next month, from the 14th to the 31st.
On the same day, Vice Minister Park Beom-soo of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs chaired a meeting with relevant agencies and local governments to assess the situation of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak and the quarantine measures in place.
As a result of this foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, the impact on Korean cattle exports is expected to be limited. According to the 'regionalization principle' of the World Trade Organization (WTO), Korean cattle raised and slaughtered in areas other than Jeollanam-do, where the outbreak occurred, are still eligible for export.
Therefore, Hong Kong, Macau, Malaysia, and the UAE will allow the export of Korean cattle produced in areas excluding Jeollanam-do, while Cambodia can continue exports from all regions except for the affected farm. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Korean cattle exports are expected to proceed as normal for now, but if foot-and-mouth disease spreads nationwide, export restrictions may become unavoidable.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs also projected that the impact of this foot-and-mouth disease outbreak on the supply and price of Korean cattle would not be significant. A total of 191 Korean cattle culled due to the outbreak accounts for only 0.006% of the total number of cattle raised domestically, which is around 3.34 million.
A representative from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs noted, 'The current supply of Korean cattle is sufficient, and unless additional external variables arise, market supply will be maintained smoothly.'