Science and Health

Foot-and-mouth disease reported in S. Korea

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-07 16:57
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SEOUL: The foot-and-mouth disease in livestock have occurred in a northern city of Seoul for the first time in eight years, government officials said on Thursday.

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The Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said in a press release that nine out of a total 185 milk cows at the farm in the northern city of Pocheon have tested positive for the disease, showing symptoms of blisters on the mouth that could potentially lead to death.

Foot-and-mouth disease is highly contagious that could fatally harm cattle, pigs, deer, goats and sheep, but are rarely transmitted to humans.

No cases of the disease has been reported in South Korea since February 2002, but the latest outbreak could potentially harm the country's beef and pork businesses as trading partners may turn away from importing its products, the ministry said.

South Korea had seen the outbreak occur in 2000 and 2002 that resulted in net losses of 300 billion won ($264 million) and 150 billion won ($132 million) respectively, local media reported.
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