Korea rolls out pest control program to contain lumpy skin disease
Cattle wait to be vaccinated at a farm in Seosan, 98 kilometers southwest of Seoul, Oct. 23. Yonhap
Agricultural authorities launched a nationwide pest control campaign against blood-feeding insects amid growing concerns over the spread of lumpy skin disease among cattle, officials said Wednesday.
The program, which will run through Nov. 10, followed the possibility that mosquitoes or other insects that were transported by air current or ships, may have been responsible for the country's first-ever outbreak of the viral infection on Oct. 20.
So far, Korea has confirmed 70 cases of the disease, including three from the previous day. Authorities are investigating four suspected cases as well.
The government also plans to complete its vaccination program by Nov. 10, and it typically takes around three weeks for cattle to develop antibodies.
The disease, which does not affect humans, is highly infectious, causing skin lesions, fever and loss of appetite, often leading to a fall in milk production and even death. (Yonhap)