Seoul News.Net
Friday 21st January, 2011
The South Korean military has been called in to help deal with the effects of the devastation, and to help stem the spreading of the disease. The military has already killed two million cows and pigs so far, and vaccinated tens of millions more.
The South Korean agriculture ministry advised on Thursday the current outbreak is the worst in the country's history.
The cost of dealing with the crisis has already soared well above $1 billion, the ministry said, largely through a substantial loss of exports.
129 cases have been confirmed since November 28 which has resulted in 22% of the swine population and nearly 4% of the cattle population being culled. Vaccinations are continuing across the country as the government tries to limit the number of animals that need to be destroyed, a CNN report said Friday.
The government introduced travel restrictions for livestock and ordered cattle markets to be shut shortly after the latest outbreak on November 28 in the southern city of Andong.
As a result, pork and beef imports are up and retail prices of both have risen almost 9% in just a month, the CNN reportt said.
The spread of bird flu is also putting pressure on South Korean farmers, with almost 4 million birds culled so far.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture describes foot-and-mouth disease as "a severe, highly contagious viral disease of cattle and swine."
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