S.Korea battles spread of foot-and-mouth, bird flu
South Korea on Sunday reported seven new cases of foot-and-mouth disease as the country battles its worst outbreak of the highly contagious virus and its first avian influenza outbreak in more than two years.
The agriculture ministry confirmed seven cases of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle and pig farms at five cities across the country, bringing the total number of cases to 74 since November 29.
The number of animals (affected by the outbreak) constantly keeps rising… it’s hard for us to keep up,” the ministry spokeswoman said.
About 160,000 animals were killed during the previous worst outbreak in 2002. In a desperate attempt to contain the spread of the disease, the government since December 25 has vaccinated some 450,000 cattle — risking a longer export ban by overseas buyers.
It takes longer for a country that uses vaccinations to regain disease-free status from the World Organisation for Animal Health than when the disease is curbed solely by culling.
Previous outbreaks in January and April last year cost more than 250 billion won with nearly 50,000 animals slaughtered.