[Livestock News Reporter Seo Dong-hwi]
Emphasis on checking for missed vaccinations, controlling access, and thorough disinfection
The National Hanwoo Association (Chairman Min Gyeong-cheon) urged Hanwoo cattle farms to check their vaccinations and thoroughly implement biosecurity measures, as cases of foot-and-mouth disease and lumpy skin disease have continued to occur this year.
According to an announcement by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on 10 29, there have been 15 cases of foot-and-mouth disease this year, including 4 cases in Ganghwa, Incheon; 2 cases in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province; and 9 cases in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province. In particular, during surveillance testing at farms in Ganghwa, Incheon, where infection antibodies (NSP) were detected, 3 animals tested positive for the antigen. Veterinary experts consider antigen detection during surveillance to be unusual.
As of the status announced by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs on 6, lumpyskin had occurred in 303 cases nationwide. Of these, 139 cases were confirmed in Jeonnam-Gwangju Integrated Special City and 26 in Gangjin County.
The Korea Hanwoo Association urged farms to check for any animals that had missed vaccination and to control access to farms by outsiders and vehicles.
When entering a farm, use separate boots and work clothes, and regularly clean and disinfect vehicles entering and leaving the premises, as well as the inside and outside of livestock barns. If cattle show suspicious symptoms such as fever, drooling, or skin nodules, immediately report them to the animal disease control authorities and cooperate with testing and disease control measures.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs previously conducted an intensive disinfection week targeting livestock farms with cloven-hoofed animals and livestock transport vehicles nationwide from 10 month 29 to 11 month 4, and investigated cattle farms for animals that had missed vaccination and proceeded with vaccination. The association also asked local governments and relevant agencies to continue measures to prevent the spread, including expanding surveillance, conducting intensive disinfection, and carrying out follow-up investigations at farms where infection antibodies were detected.
An official from the Korea Hanwoo Association said, “Following basic biosecurity rules at the farm level is the first step in preventing the spread of disease,” and added, “As the government has designated a focused disinfection week, we ask farms to carefully carry out vaccination, disinfection, and access control as well.”
Livestock News, CHUKSANNEWS