|
|
Change Your Life! |
South Korea reports another outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease |
|
News
|
April 17, 2000
SEOUL, APR 16 (AP) - Hundreds of more cattle were slaughtered in South Korea after another outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease was discovered, quarantine officials said Sunday.
One cattle on a farm in Hongsong, 100 kilometers (62 miles) south of Seoul, was found to have the deadly animal disease, the National Veterinary Quarantine Service said.
The infected cattle and about 550 others in the same and nearby farms have been slaughtered and buried over the weekend, it said.
So far, 15 farms in three provinces have been confirmed to be infected since symptoms of the disease were first reported in Paju, 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Seoul, around March 20.
Authorities banned the movement of animals and were inoculating all cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs and goats within a 10-kilometer (6-mile) radius of infected farms.
South Korea has slaughtered about 1,900 cattle and pigs and inoculated 400,000 others. Most livestock markets were closed to prevent the further spread of the disease.
It was the first confirmed outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Asia since the disease virtually wiped out Taiwan's hog herd three years ago.
Japan, Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore and China have banned imports of beef and pork from South Korea.
Infected cattle and pigs show a decline of appetite with blisters on their hooves and mouths. The disease can kill entire herds but cannot be passed on to people.
|