Seoul: South Korea reported its third foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) case of the year Saturday. The government's central headquarters for FMD response announced that the latest case was identified at a beef cattle farm in Goyang, located just northwest of Seoul. The farm owner notified authorities after observing FMD symptoms in three cows earlier on Saturday, and subsequent tests confirmed the presence of the disease.

According to Yonhap News Agency, this marks the second FMD case in Goyang within eight days, following the initial case confirmed in Incheon, just west of the capital city, on January 31. The two affected farms in Goyang are situated approximately 200 meters apart, as reported by the central headquarters.

Foot-and-mouth disease is an acute infectious viral disease that impacts cows, pigs, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals, though it poses no threat to humans. In response to the outbreak, the government has dispatched quarantine and epidemiologic experts to the affected farm, with plans to cull any additional cows that test positive for FMD.

Government officials have called on cattle farms nationwide to implement measures to prevent further spread of the disease, including ensuring their livestock is vaccinated.