South Korea reports fourth ASF outbreak in Jeollanam-do

The Jeollanam-do government said on Thursday that an African swine fever outbreak has occurred at a pig farm in Shinwang-myeon, Hampyeong County, triggering immediate initial quarantine measures and strengthened surveillance. This is the fourth ASF outbreak in the province this year, following incidents in Yeongwang, Naju, and Muan. Nationwide, 24 ASF cases had been reported as of the 16th.

The province dispatched the Emergency Disease Control and Quarantine Support Headquarters’ rapid-response team to enforce entry control at the outbreak site and carry out emergency disinfection. The farm will be culled promptly, and immediate post-disposal cleaning and measures to prevent environmental contamination will be implemented.

A 10-kilometer radius around the outbreak has been designated a quarantine zone. Within this zone, pig farms and related facilities are subject to movement restrictions and will undergo clinical and targeted diagnostic testing. An on-site support team will conduct further epidemiological investigations into the source of the outbreak and strengthen cleaning and surveillance in the area.

Hampyeong’s pig farms and related livestock facilities, including slaughterhouses and feed plants, as well as livestock transport vehicles, were put under a 24-hour standstill order that runs until 11:30 p.m. local time on the 17th. Authorities will conduct joint disinfection and monitor compliance during this period.

Jeollanam-do’s animal-health officials, including local counterparts, said the province will mobilize all available resources to prevent further spread and urged farms to maintain strict controls on entry of vehicles and people and to conduct thorough disinfection both inside and outside facilities.

Beyond Korea, ASF outbreaks matter to the United States because they disrupt global pork supply chains, influence pork prices, and affect trade and processing networks across markets. Korea is a major pork producer in East Asia, and recurrent outbreaks in Jeollanam-do underscore ongoing biosecurity challenges in the region, with potential implications for regional and global markets and for U.S. exporters and processors connected to Asian demand.

ASF is a highly contagious disease that affects pigs and wild boars; it does not pose a risk to human health. Control relies on swift culling, movement controls, sanitation, and environmental containment, all of which can ripple through international trade and affect domestic producers seeking stable supply and pricing.