The outbreak was detected on January 30 at a farm in the city of Incheon in northern South Korea. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the farm kept 246 head of cattle, of which 87 were confirmed infected. All animals on the farm were culled.
Within the Incheon metropolitan area, the case was reported in Ganghwa County, located close to the border with North Korea. To contain the spread of the virus, authorities dispatched quarantine and epidemiological investigation teams to the site.
A 48-hour standstill was also imposed on the movement of workers and vehicles connected to farms and livestock facilities in Incheon and the neighbouring Gyeonggi Province. Farms and animals in surrounding areas were additionally tested.
FMD affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, pigs, goats and sheep. In South Korea, the disease reappears from time to time, typically leading to temporary movement restrictions and culling, after which the situation is usually brought under control relatively quickly.
However, the 2010–2011 outbreaks had far more serious consequences, as large-scale culling of cattle and pigs caused major disruptions to the country’s livestock sector.
The previous FMD outbreak in South Korea was recorded in April 2025, when more than 2,100 head of cattle and over 14,000 pigs were involved.
Veterinary authorities are currently strengthening monitoring efforts to prevent further spread of the infection.
PigUA.info based on pigprogress.net