South Korea strengthens spring African swine fever prevention measures

 

1.
The current situation of African swine fever and previous measures

 

As of February 24, a total of 1,138 cases of wild boar infections with African swine fever have occurred in 13 counties and cities in South Korea.
Through the previous concentrated killing of wild boars, the number of wild boars was reduced to 4.
1 per square kilometer in October 2020.
In order to prevent the spread of the epidemic, South Korea has strengthened the search and removal of dead wild boar carcasses in related areas, and set up double fences on the main routes of wild boars.
In the farmed pigs, there were 14 cases in September 2019 and 2 cases in October 2020.
In October 2020, 18 counties and cities bordering wild boar activity areas were designated as "African Swine Fever Key Epidemic Prevention and Management Areas.
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2.
Research and Judgment on the Development of African Swine Fever Epidemic

 

　　Regarding the wild boar epidemic, after the farrowing period from April to May in spring, the number of wild boar individuals will increase sharply.
Infected wild boars may spread westward and southward from the current epidemic location, and the risk of entering dense pig farms is higher.
In addition, as plants grow more and more luxuriant, the difficulty in searching for dead boar carcasses will increase.
Rising temperature will also increase the activity radius of insects, wild animals and other vectors, and the activity radius of wild boar may also expand to the vicinity of residential areas.
There are still many difficulties in the epidemic prevention of pigs.
Pig farms outside the border areas still have insufficient disinfection and epidemic prevention facilities, and some farms have loopholes in the management of livestock vehicles entering and exiting the farm.
During the spring farming period, there is a risk of bringing pollution sources into the farm through personnel and agricultural materials.
In addition, sow farms with frequent personnel visits also have weak links in terms of epidemic prevention.

 

　　3.
Relevant measures to strengthen the prevention of African swine fever

 

　　Regarding wild boars, the first is to minimize the density of wild boars and plan to carry out concentrated hunting activities from March to April.
The second is to carry out a unified search for dead and sick boars.
During the period from March 1 to 7, search personnel such as special search teams and the army will be added to search for new regional routes and mountainous areas around farmers to inspect and disinfect the environment of wild boar habitats.
The third is to strengthen the fence setting.
Use double fences to seal off the outbreak site, set up wild boar isolation fences around large-scale pig-raising areas, use highways and other buildings to construct isolation nets, arrange 150 fence managers, and implement regular maintenance.

 

　　Regarding pig farms, the first is to quickly improve the epidemic prevention measures for pig farms.
Before the end of April, the quarantine headquarters and local autonomous organizations will conduct joint inspections to improve the fences of related pig farms, composting yard isolation nets, and disinfection facilities.
With the Korean Pig Association as the center, encourage pig farms across the country to strengthen epidemic prevention facilities, and provide consultation and guidance for improving epidemic prevention facilities.
The second is to implement centralized management of the weak links of epidemic prevention in key epidemic prevention management areas.
It is forbidden to carry out construction in sow breeding facilities, conduct comprehensive inspections before sows are released for slaughter, and implement epidemic prevention measures such as separation of sows and pigs in the slaughterhouse.
Strengthen the disinfection of pig farms that carry out farming activities at the same time, and close the entrances and exits without disinfection facilities.
The third is to expand publicity and education efforts.
Take the national pig farms as the object, carry out the "Rice and Pest Eradication Day" every Wednesday.
In order to allow foreign workers to fully grasp the epidemic prevention rules, epidemic prevention guidelines have been produced in 15 languages.
In addition, the Korean Pig Association, etc.
also target member farmers, continue to issue notices about epidemic prevention codes, and implement non-contact education.