Korea reports 21st ASF case this year

Access to a pig farm in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, is restricted after an outbreak of African swine fever was confirmed, Feb. 8. Yonhap

Korea has confirmed a new African swine fever (ASF) case at a pig farm in the southeastern county of Hapcheon, raising the total number of cases this year to 21, authorities said Friday.

The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters said it has dispatched quarantine officials to conduct an epidemiological investigation and restrict access to the site, and plans to cull all 5,213 pigs raised at the farm.

A 24-hour standstill order has also been issued for livestock-related facilities in the areas.

The country confirmed its first ASF case of the year last month in the eastern city of Gangneung after a two-month hiatus.

ASF does not affect humans but is fatal to pigs, and there is currently no vaccine or cure for the disease.