□ African Swine Fever (ASF): In order to block the spread of African Swine Fever (ASF), and to stop it from spreading to pig farms, the Central Disaster Management Headquarters will strengthen cooperation with related ministries.

 

□ Since October 9 of last year, African swine fever has not occurred in breeding pigs, but it continues to occur in wild boar in Paju, Yeoncheon, Cheorwon, and Hwacheon (421 cases as of March 24).

ㅇ In particular, after the end of March, wild boar birth will begin and the number of wild boar will increase. And when the number of vehicles and people accessing in the area increases during the farming season, it is expected that it will be more difficult to control ASF among wild boar.

 

□ As the quarantine conditions in the spring become more difficult, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of National Defense will make efforts to combat African swine fever.

 

□ The Ministry of Environment diversified the method of capturing wild boar, removed the carcasses through extensive search, and reinforced the wide fences as part of full-scale efforts to prevent the spread of African swine fever in wild boar.

ㅇ It plans to increase the number of capture frames / traps (440 traps → 515 traps, 220 traps → 625 traps) while continuing to pursue capture activities to reduce the number of wild boar in the area within the wide-fence.

- Capture frame management groups will be operated by city and county to maximize the effect of the installation of the capture frames and traps by attracting with food and selecting the appropriate location.

ㅇ In order to reduce the risk of spreading ASF in the outskirts of the wide-fence area, capture belts will be set in 8 cities and counties* in Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do, and the number of wild boar will be reduced in advance by performing intensive capture from south to north.

* Gangwon areas: Yanggu, Chuncheon, Inje, Goseong, Gyeonggi areas: Pocheon, Gapyeong, Yangju, Dongducheon

ㅇ In order to quickly remove wild boar dead bodies, 8 cities and counties* including surrounding areas such as Pocheon and Yanggu were divided into 81 zones. In particular, the mountainous areas that remain unchecked, will be thoroughly searched for carcasses through simultaneous search.

* Paju, Yeoncheon, Cheorwon, Hwacheon, Pocheon, Yanggu, Inje, Chuncheon

ㅇ In addition, in order to prevent the spread from Yeoncheon to Pocheon, wide-area fences were installed in the southern part of the Hantangang River, and in order to prevent the spread of ASF among wild boar from Hwacheon to Yanggu, the installation of wide-area fences to the south of Paroho Lake in Hwacheon-gun and east of Haesan will be completed in March.

-By the end of March, the reinforcement of village sections (47 locations) will be completed for existing wide-area fences, such as the East-West wide-area fences and South-North fences in Yanggu.

ㅇ In addition, along with the MAFRA and the Ministry of National Defense, environmental samples from boar habitats around the demilitarized zone, wild boar habitats near areas where positive entities were discovered, nearby farmlands, bordering rivers, and farmers' vehicles accessing inside the Civilian Control Line are regularly monitored on the spread of the virus.

 

□ The Ministry of National Defense, which is currently focusing on COVID-19 prevention and public support, recognizes the importance of the roles of the military troops to prevent the spread of ASF.

ㅇ In addition, the ministry decided to further strengthen and support the capture using firearms in the northern area of the Civilian Control Line in cooperation with a private hunters, and to expand the search for boar carcasses.

ㅇ In areas where quarantine is difficult such as bordering regions and mountainous regions, aviation and air defense will be reinforced in addition to quarantine measures to vehicles and people accessing the demilitarized zone.

 

□ In addition to intensive sterilization of bordering regions, MAFRA will significantly strengthen the prevention measures of farms to prevent African swine fever from entering the farm.

ㅇ Also, quarantine measures of farms including 23 rules in 9 areas such as quarantine measures including installation of fences, bird netting, insect screens, and other facilities to prevent the virus from spreading near the farms and inside the farms and livestock facilities via media, vehicles and people such as wild fur and feather, rats and flies, cleaning and sterilizing farms, and building quicklime belts, and compliance to basic quarantine rules such as washing hands and changing boots were materialized and circulated to 6,300 farms nationwide.

ㅇ In addition, in order to quickly implement the quarantine measures at the farm level, consultants (955 consultants) were assigned to 6,300 pig farms nationwide to perform one-on-one consultation.

ㅇ From April, the central and local governments will form a joint inspection group to check the prevention measures of pig farms across the country, and plan to impose penalties for violations of the law.

 

□ The Central Disaster Management Headquarters for African swine fever said, "We will do our best to prevent the spread of ASF among wild boar even after the spring."

ㅇ The headquarters added, "If there is an increase in the number of people entering the farming area during the farming season, the spread of African swine fever is a concern, so please refrain from entering the area where the infected wild boar has been found and thoroughly manage the fences in the mountains near affected areas."