Korea reports 24 African swine fever cases this year: data

Officials are controlling the entrance to a pig farm where African Swine Fever (ASF) broke out in Hwacheon, Gangwon Province, Sept. 26, 2023. Yonhap

Korea has reported 24 confirmed cases of African swine fever (ASF) as of this week in 2026, the agriculture ministry said Tuesday, vowing to take actions to prevent further spread of the contagious animal disease.

The cases were reported from seven provinces, including Gyeonggi, Gangwon, South Chungcheong, South Jeolla and South Gyeongsang, between Jan. 16 and March 16, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

No additional cases have been reported since the middle of March.

Of the 24 cases, three cases were of strains previously identified in domestic outbreaks, while 21 cases were found to be of strains that originated outside the country, the ministry said.

Notably, ASF genes were detected in six undeclared illegal livestock products, suggesting the possible introduction of external sources of contamination, with three ASF cases that broke out at pig farms in the northern cities of Pocheon and Yeoncheon found to have been caused by transmission from wild boars, it added.

With no further outbreaks reported for the past two months, the ministry has lifted standstill orders on related facilities in regions affected with ASF on April 22, but is keeping a warning alert issued for 32 cities and counties more likely to experience additional cases.