Army steps up battle against foot-and-mouth disease

SEOUL, Dec. 30 (Yonhap) -- Thousands more soldiers and additional military
equipment have been called in to help stem a fast-spreading outbreak of
foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), the Army said Thursday.
The stepped-up battle by the Army came a day after the government raised its FMD
alert to the highest level and culled more than 500,000 heads of livestock since
the outbreak of the disease a month ago. Despite government-wide efforts, the FMD
has showed no sign of coming under control.
Since early this month, about 32,000 troops and hundreds of pieces of equipment
such as street flusher trucks and excavators have helped the efforts to contain
the disease. From Thursday, 3,360 soldiers and 36 equipment were additionally
mobilized, the Army said.
"From now on, the Army will actively help local governments stem the spread of
the disease," an Army official said.
Earlier in the day, President Lee Myung-bak called on the military to provide
"more assistance and cooperation" to curtail the spread of the disease.
A total of 66 cases have been reported across the nation since the outbreak of
the disease was first reported on Nov. 28. About 549,000 heads of cattle and pigs
in 2,318 farms have so far been slaughtered and buried.
South Korea has also vaccinated tens of thousands of animals in some of
worst-affected areas.
FMD is fatal for cloven-hoofed animals including cows, pigs and goats, causing
blisters on the mouth and feet. It does not affect humans.
kdh@yna.co.kr