S. Korea beefs up screening in airport to prevent ASF
SEOUL, July 7 (Yonhap) -- South Korea said Tuesday it has installed six additional X-ray devices at its main airport as it strengthens the guard against African swine fever (ASF).
The move raised the number of X-ray devices at Incheon International Airport to eight and is designed to prevent travelers from bringing in pork products that can potentially be infected with the virus, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
South Korea has been grappling with a steady rise of ASF cases among wild boars, which can potentially spark another wave of infections among domestic pigs.
The country confirmed its first-ever outbreak of the animal disease in September 2019. Local authorities have culled about 400,000 domestic pigs as part of preventive measures, virtually sweeping out areas with ASF outbreaks.
Although no additional ASF cases on farms have been reported since early October, authorities have been discovering dead wild boars carrying the disease along the inter-Korean border.
As of the end of June, South Korea has detected 655 cases of ASF from wild boars. All of the infections found here came from areas bordering North Korea.
The animal disease does not affect humans but is deadly to pigs. There is currently no vaccine, nor cure for the disease. The virus spreads through direct contact with infected animals or their remains.
This makes the efforts to prevent the influx of the virus from other countries even more important.
South Korea currently slaps a fine of 5 million won (US$4,200) for travelers bringing in pork products from ASF-infected countries without winning approval in advance. The amount can reach up to 10 million won for people violating the regulation multiple times.
colin@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
BTS' J-Hope closes Chicago's Lollapalooza festival
-
Pelosi to meet Nat'l Assembly speaker amid heightened regional tensions over Taiwan visit
-
Ruling party moves toward leadership switch
-
BTS could be allowed to perform overseas during military service: defense minister
-
(LEAD) N. Korea slams Pelosi's Taiwan visit, backs China's position
-
BTS' J-Hope closes Chicago's Lollapalooza festival
-
(2nd LD) Kim, Pelosi agree to support efforts for denuclearization of N. Korea
-
(LEAD) Assembly speaker meets with Pelosi amid heightened Sino-U.S. tensions
-
Ruling party moves toward leadership switch
-
BTS could be allowed to perform overseas during military service: defense minister
-
Court recognizes death after drinking with boss as workplace accident
-
150 front-line Army commandoes to conduct joint training at U.S. Army's National Training Center
-
Whereabouts of 55 Thai tourists on Jeju unknown
-
Deputy national security adviser resigns due to health reasons
-
(2nd LD) S. Korea's new COVID-19 cases above 100,000 for 6th day