South Korea confirmed three more cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) on Thursday, all in the area where the latest outbreak was first reported, raising concerns over its further spread.
In desperate efforts to stem the disease from spreading to other regions, the government decided to cull animals at farms located hundreds of kilometers away from Andong, a southeastern city where the latest outbreak was first reported.
"Three suspected cases were reported yesterday (Wednesday), all near the two pig farms where the first case was reported, and today laboratory tests came back with positive results," said an official at the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The additional cases raised the total number of farms now affected by the disease to six. Foot-and-mouth affects all cloven-hoofed animals, including sheep and goats.
An additional case was confirmed Tuesday, one day after the latest outbreak was reported in the city located some 270 kilometers southeast of
Seoul.
Six more suspected cases were reported Thursday, including the possible infection of a cow at a farm located outside of Andong, indicating possible spread of the disease. Laboratory test results will be available early
Friday, according to the ministry.
The government culled more than 33,000 animals near the affected farms under its disease prevention program as soon as the outbreak was reported and shut down nearly all of the country's livestock markets.
The government has decided to destroy an additional 22,000 pigs at two farms in Boryeong, a western coastal city located on the opposite side of the country from Andong.
"Our investigation showed a farm consultant had visited the affected farms in Andong two days before the FMD outbreak was confirmed and has since visited the two pig farms in Boryeong," a ministry official said.
The latest outbreak tainted the country's recently regained status as an FMD-free nation. The country had last reported an outbreak of the animal disease in April, preceded by others in January and in 2002.
The disease does not affect humans, and meat from infected animals is safe for consumption.