The Gyeonggi Province Northern Animal Health Laboratory said Tuesday that follow-up tests for foot-and-mouth disease infection antibodies (NSP) at remaining farms linked to an outbreak in Goyang earlier this year found no abnormalities at either farm.
The outbreak, which struck three farms in Goyang in February, was brought under control through swift quarantine measures and officially declared over on April 30.
Two farms were subject to the follow-up checks, as they required continued monitoring for residual infection antibodies when the Goyang outbreak was closed. Under the current system, farms still under management after movement restrictions are lifted must undergo re-examination at three-month and six-month intervals following the official end of an outbreak.
When the laboratory tested Farm A on Aug. 27, it detected foot-and-mouth disease infection antibodies in four of the farm's 40 animals. The same four animals had also tested positive in a May inspection. In consultation with the farm owner, a further re-examination will be conducted in three months. The remaining 36 animals showed no abnormalities.
On Sept. 4, re-examination of the 69 animals at Farm B found infection antibodies in five animals — the same five that had tested positive in the May re-examination. After consulting with the farm owner, who did not wish to continue further testing, the laboratory culled all five animals. The remaining 64 animals were clear.
The laboratory said both farms were deemed free of problems, as neither showed any increase in foot-and-mouth disease infection antibodies beyond previously identified cases.
The laboratory said it plans to continue rigorous quarantine management and antibody testing at Farm A to prevent any further outbreak.
"When infection antibodies are detected, there is a possibility that the virus remains present, so farms must maintain thorough biosecurity measures, including regular disinfection of livestock facilities," said Choe Ok-bong, director of the Gyeonggi Province Northern Animal Health Laboratory. "As SAT1-type foot-and-mouth disease — a strain not covered by existing vaccines — has been occurring frequently in Mongolia and neighboring areas, northern Gyeonggi Province, which borders those regions, requires especially stringent quarantine management."
pjh@heraldcorp.com
