South Korea confirms fourth case of African swine fever this year

Quarantine officials put out safety signs at a pig farm where an African swine fever case broke out in the eastern county of Hwacheon, Sept. 26, 2023. Yonhap

Korea has confirmed a fourth case of African swine fever (ASF) from pig farms this year, officials said Sunday.

The latest ASF case was found at a farm in Yeongcheon, 243 kilometers southeast of Seoul, the previous day, according to the farm ministry.

The government issued a 48-hour standstill order for pig farms and related facilities in the nearby region.

ASF does not affect humans but is deadly to pigs. There is currently no vaccine or cure for the disease.

The ministry said the case will have a limited effect on the local pork market while calling on farms to thoroughly abide by the necessary quarantine steps. (Yonhap)