(LEAD) Gov't to tighten quarantine controls to stem spread of FMD

(ATTN: UPDATES with more detail in para 2, 9; ADDS comments, information in para 3-8)
SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will tighten quarantine measures to stem
the spread of the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and assist
farmers hurt by the outbreak, the government said Friday.

After a national policy management meeting chaired by the prime minister, the
Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said that frontline
quarantine officials have been ordered to cull and bury animals without waiting
for definitive laboratory test results.
"They will be allowed to limit movement of livestock and order the slaughter of
animals on the spot based on their judgment," Park Hyun-chool, head the
ministry's FMD task force, told reporters.
He said such measures reflect problems in the current testing system, which is
unable to accurately determine if an animal is infected with the disease that can
spread very quickly and over long distances.
Existing tests such as the "ELISA" kit have been cited as unreliable when
checking for FMD, as they can only determine the presence of the disease if an
animal has developed an antigen or antibody. The FMD virus can remain dormant in
an animal for up to two weeks.
"Because of such shortcomings the government plans to rewrite the current
standard operating procedure on FMD to give clearer guidance to quarantine
officials and veterinarians," the official said.
Park, in addition, said that the government will further tighten movement of
livestock, people and vehicles in areas affected by the FMD outbreaks.
"Quarantine officials with the help of police and the military will man numerous
checkpoints within a 3 kilometer radius of an infected area," he said.
The ministry also said inspections have been strengthened at international
airports and harbors to keep out meat and animal products that may have been
responsible for the latest outbreak.
FMD affects all cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs and goats, causing
blisters on the feet and mouth of livestock and sometimes leading to death. It
can be spread via air, feed and by the import of farm products that have not been
sterilized. Humans, though not affected by the disease, can also be carriers.
The country was hit by FMD outbreaks in 2000 and 2002, with 15 and 16 cases
reported in those years, respectively.
Authorities said that while the government will do its part to find suspected
cases and take preventative measures, individual farmers must report any sign of
sick livestock and take responsibility for decontaminating their animals.
Farm Minister Chang Tae-pyong, meanwhile, said Seoul will fully compensate
farmers who have to cull and bury animals.
He said for farms that have been barred from selling animals due to the FMD
outbreak, the government will take steps to purchase them. Many farms near
affected areas are currently not allowed to sell their animals for fear that
doing so could spread the disease.
Seoul confirmed its first FMD outbreak in eight years at a dairy farm in Pocheon,
45km north of Seoul, last week. It reported a second outbreak on Thursday at a
nearby farm. The number of animals culled and buried so far has reached 2,981
across 30 farms.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
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