FMD Situation in S Korea May be Easing
SOUTH KOREA - Just over 3,000 animals were culled yesterday in the attempts to control the spread of FMD, possibly indicating that the worst of the crisis is over.
22 February 2011
1 minute read
The severe foot-and-mouth epidemic that started in South Korea at the end of November last year appears to show signs of mitigating, local media reported today (22 February), citing the country's Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
A Chinese source reports that the ministry said a total of 3,395,021 animals – mostly pigs and cattle – had been culled as of Monday (21 February) to prevent the spread of the disease, but that day saw the culling of just 3,079 animals, according to South Korea's mass-circulation Chosun Ilbo newspaper.
Monday's figure stood at approximately one-eighth of the average 25,000 animals culled a day in early February. The newspaper said that improvement could be attributed to the second round of vaccination that will be completed by the end of this month.
"We're cautiously predicting that foot-and-mouth disease would be under control by early next month after the second round of vaccinations is completed this month," Agricultural Minister, Yoo Jeong-bok, was quoted as saying by the newspaper.
