Seoul: The Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters announced plans to enhance quarantine measures to prevent livestock epidemics from affecting the farming sector ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday, which falls in mid-February. The agency will focus on strengthening measures in regions where animal diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and African swine fever (ASF), have been reported, alongside increased vaccinations and nationwide preemptive inspections.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision follows the confirmation of the first FMD case in nine months at a cattle farm in Incheon last week. FMD is a contagious viral disease impacting cows, pigs, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals, though it poses no risk to humans. Additionally, the country reported its fourth ASF case this year, leading authorities to intensify containment efforts nationwide.

To date, authorities have confirmed approximately 40 cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza at poultry farms, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced preventive measures.