FMD South Korea: First outbreak in 9 months
Foot and mouth disease (FMD) emerged on a cattle farm in the north of South Korea in late January. It was the first time in 9 months the viral disease appeared.
The outbreak was found on 30 January on a farm in Incheon, one of the metropolitan cities within South Korea. According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), there were 246 head of cattle on the farm. In total, 87 animals were found to be infected; all animals on the site were culled.
More specifically, within Incheon metropolitan city, the case was reported in Ganghwa county, very close to the border with North Korea. South Korean authorities sent quarantine and epidemiologic experts to the farm to help stop the spread of the disease. A 48-hour standstill was ordered on workers and vehicles with access to farms and other livestock-related facilities in Incheon and neighbouring Gyeonggi province. Farms and animals in the wide surroundings were also tested.
FMD: a virus for cloven-hoofed animals
FMD can cause disease in cows, pigs, goats, and other cloven-hoofed animals. From time to time, the viral disease returns in South Korea, often leading to temporary standstills and culls – though outbreaks tend to get controlled relatively quickly. In the years 2010-2011, however, outbreaks led to significant culling in both cattle and pig industries and a subsequent disruption of the livestock industry.
The last FMD outbreak in South Korea dates back to April 2025. During that outbreak, over 2,100 head of cattle and over 14,000 head of swine were involved.
