South Korea has initiated disinfection efforts following the confirmation of an African swine fever outbreak at a pig farm in Gimpo, Gyeonggi province, local media reported on Saturday. This outbreak is the eighth case of the virus in the country this year.
The timing of the outbreak, just before the three-day mid-autumn Chuseok holiday (Sept. 20-22), is particularly concerning. During this period, South Koreans traditionally hold rituals to honor their ancestors and visit their graves.
Authorities have implemented emergency quarantine measures at the affected farm to prevent further spread of the disease. Kim Jong-ku from the Agriculture Ministry expressed concern about the potential for additional outbreaks, noting that African swine fever (ASF) often surfaces in autumn and that the increased movement of people during the holiday could exacerbate the situation.
While ASF is not transmissible to humans, it is highly contagious and fatal among both domesticated and wild pigs.
