Plagues, Pestilences and Diseases
Fear grows in S. Korea over rapid spread of foot-and-mouth disease
2010-12-07 15:12:30
SEOUL, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- Fears over the spread of foot-and- mouth
disease are growing in South Korea as another outbreak of the disease
was confirmed on Tuesday, raising the total number of cases to 31.
The Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said Tuesday
that cattle at a farm in Yeongyang County in North Gyeongsang Province
tested positive for the disease.
The ministry, which had established a precautionary quarantine area
around the farm, said cattle at the affected farm have been culled and
buried along with all cloven-hoofed animals within a 500-meter radius.
The confirmed case has put South Korea on the highest alert against the
rapid spread of the highly contagious disease. The first outbreak
outside Andong where the disease was first reported at two pig farms
early last week was confirmed in Yecheon on Sunday.
The latest case marks the second time that the disease was confirmed
outside of Andong, which aggravates worries that the disease will
spread throughout the province and possibly beyond.
In an effort to prevent the spread of the disease, 104,360 head of
livestock have been culled and buried.