S. Korea reports 8 more African swine fever cases in wild boars

SEOUL, March 10 (Yonhap) -- An environment agency said Tuesday it has found eight more wild boars infected with African swine fever (ASF) virus in areas near the inter-Korean border. The discoveries raised the number of wild boar infections in the country to 347.

The eight carcasses were found in the border city of Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province, north of Seoul, according to a research institute affiliated with the environment ministry.

South Korea confirmed its first-ever outbreak of the animal disease in September last year. Although no additional ASF cases on farms have been reported since early October, authorities continue to discover dead wild boars carrying the disease.

Different from other animal diseases, such as foot-and-mouth disease, which is airborne, African swine fever spreads through direct contact with infected animals or their remains, according to experts.

North Korea reported its first outbreak of ASF at a pig farm near its border with China in May last year, and all confirmed cases so far in South Korea have been reported in border areas.

As part of preventive measures, the authorities have culled about 400,000 pigs. Currently, no vaccines or cures exist.

(END)