South Korea has slaughtered 1.5 million animals to halt fast-spreading outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
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Pastor Dale Morgan
Jan 18, 2011, 11:14:43 AM1/18/11
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Plagues,
Pestilences and Diseases
South Korea has slaughtered 1.5 million animals to halt fast-spreading outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
Meat prices soar and farmers fear for future as 1.5 million animals, mainly pigs and cows, are slaughtered
* Philippe Mesmer
* Guardian Weekly, Tuesday 18 January 2011 14.06 GMT
The government has deployed vast resources in an attempt to contain the current foot-and-mouth outbreak.
Despite the deployment of massive resources, South Korea's worst-ever foot-and-mouth epidemic is still spreading, threatening to turn into a social and economic disaster. The highly contagious disease broke out on 28 November on a farm at Andong, in the eastern province of North Gyeongsang.
A new case was confirmed last week, with 114 centres of infection spread over almost half the country. About 1.5 million animals, mainly pigs and cows, have been put down, accounting for 8% of total livestock.
The government has imposed travel restrictions and a strict quarantine, closing cattle markets and some zoos. Some 68,000 soldiers have been mobilised to assist regional forces involved in the destruction of livestock. More than 2 million head of cattle have been vaccinated since Christmas.
The government is planning to introduce a certification system to guarantee stock-breeders have adequate training, particularly on hygiene. Farmers travelling abroad will be required to inform the authorities.
The losses are thought to exceed $1.26bn. Meat prices have soared, adding to heavy inflation on food prices, coinciding with the preparations for lunar new year festivities on 3 February. There is serious concern for the future of stock farming, with exports likely to suffer long-term declines.
Korea has a long farming tradition and stock breeders are distraught at losing animals representing years of work and care. Farmers are angry about poor compensation.
The extent of the disaster has also fuelled criticism of the government's allegedly slow response and failure to learn from previous crises. In January and April last year several outbreaks were reported, leading to the slaughter of 50,000 livestock.
Japan, too, is concerned about the epidemic. Between April and August of last year a similar problem obliged the authorities to destroy 290,000 cattle in Miyazaki prefecture. Tokyo intends to impose stricter controls on goods and persons entering the country.
In South Korea, problems have been compounded since the end of December by the return of avian (H5N1) flu. Seven cases have been identified, the latest in the province of South Jeolla. More than 400,000 poultry have been destroyed.
South Korea has slaughtered 1.5 million animals to halt fast-spreading outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
Meat prices soar and farmers fear for future as 1.5 million animals, mainly pigs and cows, are slaughtered
* Philippe Mesmer
* Guardian Weekly, Tuesday 18 January 2011 14.06 GMT
The government has deployed vast resources in an attempt to contain the current foot-and-mouth outbreak.
Despite the deployment of massive resources, South Korea's worst-ever foot-and-mouth epidemic is still spreading, threatening to turn into a social and economic disaster. The highly contagious disease broke out on 28 November on a farm at Andong, in the eastern province of North Gyeongsang.
A new case was confirmed last week, with 114 centres of infection spread over almost half the country. About 1.5 million animals, mainly pigs and cows, have been put down, accounting for 8% of total livestock.
The government has imposed travel restrictions and a strict quarantine, closing cattle markets and some zoos. Some 68,000 soldiers have been mobilised to assist regional forces involved in the destruction of livestock. More than 2 million head of cattle have been vaccinated since Christmas.
The government is planning to introduce a certification system to guarantee stock-breeders have adequate training, particularly on hygiene. Farmers travelling abroad will be required to inform the authorities.
The losses are thought to exceed $1.26bn. Meat prices have soared, adding to heavy inflation on food prices, coinciding with the preparations for lunar new year festivities on 3 February. There is serious concern for the future of stock farming, with exports likely to suffer long-term declines.
Korea has a long farming tradition and stock breeders are distraught at losing animals representing years of work and care. Farmers are angry about poor compensation.
The extent of the disaster has also fuelled criticism of the government's allegedly slow response and failure to learn from previous crises. In January and April last year several outbreaks were reported, leading to the slaughter of 50,000 livestock.
Japan, too, is concerned about the epidemic. Between April and August of last year a similar problem obliged the authorities to destroy 290,000 cattle in Miyazaki prefecture. Tokyo intends to impose stricter controls on goods and persons entering the country.
In South Korea, problems have been compounded since the end of December by the return of avian (H5N1) flu. Seven cases have been identified, the latest in the province of South Jeolla. More than 400,000 poultry have been destroyed.
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