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Highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease has again occurred in the country after four years. It was confirmed one after another at a Korean beef farm in Cheongju, North Chungcheongbuk, and two other nearby farms, and the government issued a moratorium on cattle and pig farmers until midnight tomorrow (4th).

Reporter Lee Yong-sik contributed to this report.

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Korean beef farm in Cheongju,
North Chungcheong.

Emergency disinfection work is in full swing with access to the farm blocked.

At this farm, one cow died yesterday afternoon and three or four animals had symptoms of suspected foot-and-mouth disease, and after a thorough examination, it was finally confirmed to be foot-and-mouth disease.

Two nearby farms also had a series of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease, all three of which had been vaccinated.

Authorities carried out emergency killing of more than 12 cattle raised on the farm.

However, there are more than 2 Korean beef farms within 3 km of the outbreak farm, and there are concerns about further spread.

[Kim Eun-ho/Resident: Right now, there's nothing we can do right now but hope that vaccine antibodies are already there.]

Cattle, pig farmers and livestock vehicles across the country have been ordered to stop movement until midnight tomorrow.

In addition, emergency vaccination and clinical inspections have been initiated for cattle and pig farms in seven cities and counties, including Cheonan, Daejeon.

Foot-and-mouth disease, which occurs in cattle, pigs, and other animals with split hooves, is a statutory type 430 livestock infectious disease that can lead to death if infected.

[An Yong-deok/Director of the Epidemic Prevention Policy Bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs: We plan to conduct detailed inspections on more than 3 farmers in the epidemic prevention zone and 200 farms related to epidemiology.]

The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Korea has been four years and four months since January 7, making it difficult to regain the foot-and-mouth disease-free status that was just around the corner.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Food asked relevant agencies and local governments to take preventive measures such as prompt disinsection, clinical inspection, and intensive disinfection to prevent the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.

(Video Interview: Choi Ho-joon and Kim Min-chul)