ID :
100384
Fri, 01/15/2010 - 17:48
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/100384
The shortlink copeid
Gov`t to cull more milk cows to stem foot-and-mouth disease
(ATTN: UPDATES with more details in para 2-3; ADDS more information, comments from
para 4)
SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- The government said Friday it will cull an additional
124 dairy cows as a precautionary measure to stem the spread of foot-and-mouth
disease (FMD).
The animals are from two dairy farms in Pocheon, 45 kilometers north of Seoul,
where the country confirmed its first FMD outbreak in nearly eight years last
week, the agriculture ministry said.
"Both farms are located just within 900 meters from the site of the first
outbreak, with all animals kept under close observation in the past few days," a
ministry official said.
At present, the country culls all livestock within a 500 meter radius of a
confirmed FMD case and bans the movement and sale of animals within a radius of
3km.
"Several cows showed signs that may indicate they have caught the contagious
animal disease," he said, adding that conclusive test results may come out later
in the day or early Saturday.
Despite not having conclusive test results, quarantine officials at the site have
ordered that all animals be killed immediately.
The ministry, meanwhile, said that animals that had shown symptoms at another
farm 4.4km away from the site of the first outbreak tested negative for FMD.
Quarantine authorities said over 3,700 cattle, hogs and other cloven-hoofed
animals have been culled since the first outbreak was detected Jan. 7.
A second outbreak was confirmed Thursday, causing the government to beef up
quarantine inspections.
Under revised rules, local quarantine officials can order the culling of animals
without conclusive FMD test results and make reporting all suspected cases to
authorities mandatory.
FMD affects all cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, hogs and goats, causing
blisters on the feet and mouth of livestock and sometimes leading to death. It
can be spread via air, feed and imported 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.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
para 4)
SEOUL, Jan. 15 (Yonhap) -- The government said Friday it will cull an additional
124 dairy cows as a precautionary measure to stem the spread of foot-and-mouth
disease (FMD).
The animals are from two dairy farms in Pocheon, 45 kilometers north of Seoul,
where the country confirmed its first FMD outbreak in nearly eight years last
week, the agriculture ministry said.
"Both farms are located just within 900 meters from the site of the first
outbreak, with all animals kept under close observation in the past few days," a
ministry official said.
At present, the country culls all livestock within a 500 meter radius of a
confirmed FMD case and bans the movement and sale of animals within a radius of
3km.
"Several cows showed signs that may indicate they have caught the contagious
animal disease," he said, adding that conclusive test results may come out later
in the day or early Saturday.
Despite not having conclusive test results, quarantine officials at the site have
ordered that all animals be killed immediately.
The ministry, meanwhile, said that animals that had shown symptoms at another
farm 4.4km away from the site of the first outbreak tested negative for FMD.
Quarantine authorities said over 3,700 cattle, hogs and other cloven-hoofed
animals have been culled since the first outbreak was detected Jan. 7.
A second outbreak was confirmed Thursday, causing the government to beef up
quarantine inspections.
Under revised rules, local quarantine officials can order the culling of animals
without conclusive FMD test results and make reporting all suspected cases to
authorities mandatory.
FMD affects all cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, hogs and goats, causing
blisters on the feet and mouth of livestock and sometimes leading to death. It
can be spread via air, feed and imported 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.
yonngong@yna.co.kr
(END)
