South Korea on Saturday said it would cull some 16,000 farm animals due to a fast-spreading outbreak of highly contagious foot and mouth disease west of Seoul.
Cattle on a farm on Ganghwa Island, some 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the capital, tested positive Thursday for the virus, the agriculture ministry said.
Death Toll From Foot and Mouth Disease in China Doubles
Forty children in China died from the highly contagious hand, foot and mouth disease in March, almost doubling the death toll in the previous two months, state media reported.
Forty children in China died from the highly contagious hand, foot and mouth disease in March, almost doubling the death toll in the previous two months, state media reported.
"The ministry decided to step up preventative culling to stop the disease from spreading," the ministry said in a statement.
All cloven hoofed animals within three kilometers of the first contaminated farm would be culled, it said.
Foot and Mouth Disease Outbreak in South Korea
More than 150 cows were slaughtered in the South Korean town of Pocheon as health officials scrambled to prevent another outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
More than 150 cows were slaughtered in the South Korean town of Pocheon as health officials scrambled to prevent another outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease
Foot-and-mouth disease affects animals such as cattle, pigs, deer, goats and sheep. The virus can be spread between animals, through the air and on clothing. However, it is rarely transmitted to humans.
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Fifty People Succumb to Foot and Mouth Disease in China
A highly contagious disease especially harmful to young children has killed 50 people in China this year, the health ministry said Friday as it warned the worst was yet to come.
A highly contagious disease especially harmful to young children has killed 50 people in China this year, the health ministry said Friday as it warned the worst was yet to come.
Outbreaks in 2000 and 2002 cost South Korea an estimated 450 billion won (400 million dollars).
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Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease Claims Three Lives in China
Chinese state media is reporting that the hand, foot and mouth disease virus has killed three children in the country so far.
Chinese state media is reporting that the hand, foot and mouth disease virus has killed three children in the country so far.
SRM
