South Korea- New Outbreak of Food and Mouth Disease
18 April 2011
French Tribune [edited] [CAHFS-DailyNews]
Five days after declaring the end of it’s worst-ever outbreak, South Korea confirmed a new case of foot-and-mouth disease. The agriculture ministry has ordered the slaughter of the animals and emergency sanitization measures around the area because six pigs were found to be infected at a farm. Around 3.48 million animals have been slaughtered since November in South Korea’s outbreak of the highly contagious disease. In January, the government in a desperate bid to prevent the disease from spreading ordered all cattle and pigs to be vaccinated, at the risk of a longer export ban by overseas buyers.


Republic of Korea- FMD is over but milk remains in short supply
28 March 2011
Korea JoonGang Daily [edited] [CAHFS DailyNews]
The foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks are affecting peoples’ everyday lives in Korea. The price of pork has skyrocketed because there is a greater demand for it and now the country is facing a milk shortage. The government declared an end to the foot-and-mouth scourge and lowered the alert level for the disease, the ripple effects continues to spread to consumers. Dairy companies gave notice yesterday that they will cut distribution of milk products to try to cope with a milk supply shortage.

Japan- Kobe beef farmers worry about food-and-mouth illness
5 July 2010
The Associated Press [edited] [BITES]
Kobe beef, which is prized for its marbled texture and flavor, can cost 19,000 yen ($200) in some Japanese restaurants. Cattle farmers near the central city of Kobe are worried an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the southern prefecture of Miyazaki, another key beef-raising region that often supplies calves to Kobe breeders, could spread to them as well. The disease broke out about two months ago in Miyazaki. To keep it from spreading, more than 270,000 animals were destroyed, including several valuable stud bulls. Under a state of emergency, people who lived in particular areas were urged not to travel, and vehicles leaving the prefecture had to have their wheels disinfected. The outbreak appears to have been contained, and no cows in the Kobe region have been found infected. Recently, the government said it completed preventative measures and area residents can travel freely.
Related Stories
Japan- Food & Mouth Disease Update
23 August 2010
Kyodo News International report [edited] [ProMed] A working group of the Democratic Party of Japan [DPJ] concerning a recent epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease asked the Prime Minister on Monday [23 Aug 2010] to create a public fund to resuscitate the southwestern prefecture's tattered economy. The livestock industry in has been severely damaged by the epidemic, which was first reported in April [2010].
Japan- Declares end to foot-and-mouth disease epidemic, nearly 290,000 animals slaughtered
30 August 2010
The Associated Press (CP) [edited] [CAHFS Daily News]
Japan has declared an end to a foot-and-mouth disease epidemic, which resulted in the slaughter of nearly 290,000 cows and pigs. The outbreak began in southern Japan in April. The beef industry produces "wagyu" cattle, which are world-famous for intricate marbling and tenderness. The central government this month will finish issuing subsidies to farming households affected by the epidemic.

Vietnam- Foot & Mouth Disease
25 Dec 2009
Radio The Voice of Viet Nam (VOV) News [edited][ProMed]
128 head of cattle have been infected with foot-and-mouth disease in Vinh Lai commune, Van Quan district, and in Tan Lang commune, Van Lang district, in the northern province of Lang Son.
The Lang Son Provincial People's Committee has asked the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development and other relevant agencies to take prompt and effective measures to curb the spread of the disease.

September

Vietnam- New foot-and-mouth outbreak hits central Viet Nam
10 Sep 2009
Thanh Nien News [edited]
The 2nd outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Quang Binh has affected nearly 40 cows and buffalos. The central province's agriculture department said on Tuesday [8 Sep 2009] that authorities in Truong Xuan Commune and related agencies have taken measures to prevent the spread of the highly infectious viral disease, including a ban on transporting meat out of the neighborhood.
Quang Binh's 1st outbreak last month [Aug 2009] infected over 100 cows and buffalos. Since last month [Aug 2009], the disease, which hit Viet Nam hard in 2006 with tens of thousands of cattle being sickened, has recurred in central and northern provinces like QuangNgai, Quang Tri and Tuyen Quang.

August

Vietnam- Foot-and-mouth Disease detected in Quang Tri
26 Aug 2009
Radio The Voice of Viet Nam (VOV) News [edited][ProMed]
A new foot-and-mouth disease outbreak has hit 100 domestic animals in the 3 districts of Gio Linh, Huong Hoa, and Vinh Linh and Dong Ha town in central Quang Tri province.
One reason is that some localities did not destroy all the animals infected in the previous outbreak. New livestock transported to the area may have also played a part in the new outbreak.
Quang Tri's Animal Health offices are now working closely with the authorities of the 3 districts and Dong Ha town to treat the disease with antibiotics, while ensuring that carcasses are effectively destroyed and that strict safety precautions are being taken in slaughter houses.
Related Stories
02 Sept 2009- Foot-and-mouth disease spreads
Radio The Voice of Viet Nam (VOV) News [edited][ProMed]

Vietnam- Foot-and-mouth Disease outbreaks revisit Quang Ngai
24 Aug 2009
Thanh Nien News [edited]
Quang Ngai Province in the central region could be facing a serious foot-and-mouth [disease] outbreak following the death of 52 cows in the last 3 weeks, a province agriculture officer said Monday [24 Aug 2009].
An official was quoted as saying the disease had reoccurred in the province earlier this month [August 2009] but the residents tried to conceal it.

July

Taiwan to resume vaccinations on hogs to fight foot-and-mouth disease
31 Jul 2009
Taiwan News [edited][FSNet]
Taiwan will begin from Aug. 1 giving every hog aged between 12 to 14 weeks vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) announced Friday.
BAPHIQ Deputy Director said that the measure was taken to prevent the disease virus from spreading after seven outbreaks have been reported from hog farms in the Yunlin, Changhua, Chiayi, Pingtung, Taoyuan and Hsinchu areas since February.
The sporadic cases indicated that the virus had not been completely destroyed following eradication efforts in the aftermath of an outbreak in 1997, the official said.
The resumption of vaccination means that the day for Taiwan to be listed as a fully FMD-free country will not come in the short run, he added. Taiwan has been working to become a fully FMD-free country after it was recognized by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) as an "FMD-free country with vaccination" thanks to its efforts to eliminate the disease since the 1997 outbreak.
The official stated that 90 percent of the hogs around the country have never been given shots of an anti-FMD vaccine since 2005, when the vaccination was fully stopped in efforts to seek Taiwan's FMD-free status.
Related Stories
31 Jul 2009- Taiwan to resume vaccinations on hogs to fight foot-and-mouth disease
Central News Agency via Taiwan News [edited][ProMed]
05 Sep 2009- Foot-and-mouth case reported in Taoyuan Country
Central News Agency via Taiwan News [edited][ProMed]

Taiwan- Foot-and-mouth disease confirmed in Hsnichu County
21 Jul 2009
Taiwan News, Central News Agency (CNA) report [edited][ProMed]
Taiwan's animal quarantine authorities reported Tuesday [21 Jul 2009] the country's latest confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), involving a pen of hogs at a meat market in Hsinchu County, northern Taiwan. On 13 Jul 2009, 8 of the 9 hogs in the pen were discovered to have blisters -- a symptom typical of FMD. The animals were immediately destroyed.
According to officials at the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ), tests on specimens taken from the hogs confirmed that they had been infected with serotype O of the FMD virus.
As the hogs had been enclosed overnight in the meat market, it was likely that the hogs were infected in the facility, according to the officials. The market was disinfected soon after the discovery of FMD, and further disinfection efforts will be carried out in the coming days when the market is not open for business, they said.
They added that quarantine officials had already inspected the farm where the hogs were raised but no abnormalities were discovered there. The BAPHIQ, however, has restricted the movement of livestock within the farm and has collected specimens for further tests, the officials went on.
Sporadic FMD cases have been reported on pig farms in several parts of the country since the start of this year [2009].

June

Taiwan- Foot-and-mouth disease on hog farm in Taiwan's Taoyuan
23 Jun 2009
Sina [in Chinese, trans. Rappt.DS, edited][ProMed]
Taiwan's television station reports that agricultural authorities confirmed foot-and-mouth Disease [FMD] on a hog farm in [Taoyuan].
On 9 Jun 2009, the farm's owner reported symptoms of FMD in more than 30 hogs. Subsequent testing confirmed FMD. Agricultural authorities asked the farmer to strengthen immunization. The outbreak has not affected other hog farms. Authorities stipulated that the affected hog farm may not sell pork for [at least] 2 weeks, until passing further tests.

China- Foot & Mouth Disease, Bovine
08 Jun 2009
China News.com [edited]
The News Office of the Ministry of Agriculture announced this evening [8 Jun 2009] that Type A Foot & Mouth Disease [FMD] occurred in a farming area of Bincheng District in Binzhou City of Shandong Province, confirmed by the National FMD Reference Laboratory. A total of 33 cows were infected and fell ill.

April

China - Foot-and-mouth disease
2 Apr 2009
OIE, WAHID (World Animal Health Information Database), weekly disease information 2009; 22(14) [edited] [Promed]
Report type: immediate notification
Start date: 29 Mar 2009
Date of first confirmation of the event: 2 Apr 2009
Reason for notification: reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence: November 2008
Manifestation of disease: clinical disease
Causal agent: foot-and-mouth disease virus [FMDV]
Serotype: Asia 1
Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory (basic), laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country
New outbreaks
Outbreak 1: Shuigui, Lizhou, Guang yuang, Sichuan
Date of start of the outbreak: 29 Mar 2009
Outbreak status: continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit: village
Total outbreaks: 1
Outbreak statistics
Removed from the susceptible population through death, destruction, and/or slaughter
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection: unknown or inconclusive
Control measures
Measures applied: stamping out, quarantine, movement control inside the country, screening, zoning, disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s), dipping / spraying
Measures to be applied: no other measures

March

Taiwan - Foot-and-mouth disease
29 Mar 2009
OIE, WAHID (World Animal Health Information Database), weekly disease information 2009; 22 (14) [edited] [Promed]
Start date: 27 Mar 2009
Date of first confirmation of the event: 29 Mar 2009
Reason for notification: reoccurrence of a listed disease
Date of previous occurrence: 18 Feb 2009
Manifestation of disease: clinical disease
Causal agent: foot-and-mouth disease virus
Serotype: pending
Nature of diagnosis: clinical, laboratory (advanced)
This event pertains to a defined zone within the country
New outbreaks
Outbreak 1: Singang Township, Chia-i
Date of start of the outbreak: 27 Mar 2009
Outbreak status: Continuing (or date resolved not provided)
Epidemiological unit: farm
Epidemiology
Source of the outbreak(s) or origin of infection: unknown or inconclusive
Epidemiological comments: in order to ensure the eradication of FMD virus, Chinese Taipei [Taiwan] used non-vaccinated pigs as sentinel animals on every farm. The number of non-vaccinated pigs has gradually increased since August 2008.
Few pigs of a batch of 50 pigs that origin from a farm where clinical signs consistent with FMD were found during pre-slaughter inspection.
The local animal disease control competent authority traced back to the original farm. Samples were collected. The NSP ELISA test result is positive while the result of RT-PCR test is negative. Virus isolation and additional tests are underway.
291 pigs, including those 50 pigs in the slaughterhouse, have been humanely euthanized due to infection or precaution on 28 Mar 2009.
A total of 25 farms within a 3-km-(2 mi) radius around this index farm have been monitored. Cleaning and disinfection are implemented under direct supervision of the local animal disease control competent authority. No other infected farm has been found.
Control measures
Measures applied
- quarantine
- movement control inside the country
- screening
- zoning
- vaccination in response to the outbreak: a total of 653 swine have been vaccinated in Chia-i
- disinfection of infected premises/establishment(s)
- modified stamping out
- no treatment of affected animals
Measures to be applied
No other measures
Future reporting
The event is continuing. Weekly follow-up reports will be submitted
Related stories
30 Mar 2009 – Foot-and-Mouth disease - 291 pigs culled in Chiayi to ward off suspicious FMD cases
The China Post, Central News Agency (CNA) report [edited] [Promed]
According to this story, a total of 291 pigs have been culled in Chiayi City after cases of suspected foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) were detected in the southern city 2 days ago. It is reported that staff members from the COA's Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine spotted several pigs showing suspicious symptoms of FMD disease Friday [27 Mar 2009] during a routine inspection of the Chiayi meat market.
The Chiayi city government was immediately alerted and took response measures by tracking the source of the ailing pigs, which were from a farm in neighboring Chiayi County [Taiwan Province], and prohibiting movement of pigs from that farm, the official said. On Saturday [28 Mar 2009], the official went on, the pigs showing suspicious FMD symptoms and other pigs kept in the same enclosure in the farm were culled, while the remaining pigs in the farm were given shots of vaccines.
Pigs raised in farms located within 1 km (0.6 mi) from the suspected FMD-affected farm have also been vaccinated, the official said, adding that a field survey of the 25 hog farms located within a 3 km (2 mi) radius of the suspected FMD-affected spot showed that all of them operate normally without any suspicious signs of the spread of the virus.

Malaysia – Foot-and-mouth disease strikes fear in breeders (Peninsular)
2 Mar 2009
New Straits Times [edited][Promed]
It is reported that livestock breeders here are worried because foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has resurfaced and killed more than 20 cattle in the past 2 months. In January 2009, 15 cases were reported in Panching while another 13 cows died of FMD in Kampung Paya Pinang here last month.
According to this story, many breeders did not inform the authorities about the disease as they wanted to sell their sick animals. It is also explained that the state Veterinary Services Department director confirmed that more than 20 cattle had died of FMD in the past 2 months.

February

Laos – Foot-and-mouth disease
26 Feb 2009
Lao News Agency (KPL) [edited] [Promed]
The Head of Livestock and Fisheries Extension Division, Agriculture and Forestry Service of Borikhamsay [Bolikhamxai] province, disclosed last week [19 Feb 2009] that 282 cattle died of foot-and-mouth [FMD] disease in 3 districts in [Bolikhamxai] province since the [outbreak of the] disease began in December last year [2008.
The disease has been [affecting] 3 districts in the province: Pakkading, Paksan, and Thaphabath, which were also flooded last August [2008].
Pakkading is the hardest hit by the outbreak with over 220 cattle dying and another 442 cattle affected in 18 villages.
Paksan has reported 59 [dead] cattle and another 66 affected with the disease in 18 villages. Fortunately, Thaphabath only has 2 villages, Nakhan and Laokha, reported suffering from foot-and-mouth disease.
The [movement] of warm-blooded animals like goats, sheep, and cattle into and from the province is banned and strictly inspected by concerned officials.

China –Foot-and-Mouth disease
21 Feb 2009
Epoch Times [edited] [Promed]
It is reported that a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in central China led to the slaughter of over 12,000 dairy cattle at the end of 2008. The outbreak occurred in the outskirts of Wuhan City of Hubei Province. Local residents said that on New Year's Eve [26 Jan 2009] the authorities sent in armed troops and enlisted large digging machines to dig a pit 20 to 25 feet (6-8 m) deep to dump in infected cattle. Soldiers shot the infected animals, doused them with gasoline, and burned the bodies. Finally, the cattle corpses were sprinkled with lime and antiseptic lotions before being buried. The whole process lasted several days and nights.
The story goes on by explaining that local villagers said all the cows and bulls in the area were killed and buried. Road barriers were set up to disinfect passing vehicles, and major roads were also sprayed with disinfectants.
According to this story, however authorities did not alert people of the epidemic disease. Local media also remained silent. Further investigation confirmed the disease to be a special type of FMD resistant to the current vaccine.
Villagers in the area said they do not dare to touch the animals anymore because they knew the disease was infectious. But most people in Wuhan City are not aware of the outbreak.
An Epoch Times reporter called several government departments in charge of epidemics, healthcare, or agriculture. All refused to comment saying FMD is not their responsibility, and told the reporter to call other departments.
On 21 Jan 2009 China's Agriculture Ministry notified the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) about an outbreak of FMD virus type A in the Wuhan region on 13 Jan 2009, and an outbreak of FMD type Asia I in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on 14 Jan 2009.
Related stories
12 Feb 2009- Foot-and-mouth disease found in Shanghai
Trend News Agency (Azerbaijan), Xinhua News Agency report [edited] [Promed]
Foot-and-mouth disease [FMD] has been found in eastern China's Shanghai, said the Ministry of Agriculture on Wednesday [11 Feb 2009]. On 3 Feb 2009, 41 milk cows developed symptoms of FMD in the Wusi cattle farm in Fengxian district, on the outskirts of Shanghai, while the disease was confirmed by national lab on Wednesday [11 Feb 2009]. Emergency measures were taken and some 440 cows in the cattle farm were culled, Xinhua reported. No outbreak of the disease has been discovered outside the cattle farm yet.

Taiwan- Foot-and-mouth disease cases reported
19 Feb 2009
Taiwan News, Central News Agency report [edited] [Promed]
Taiwan will not be eligible to apply for listing as a foot-and-mouth-disease (FMD)-free country until the latter half of 2011 at the earliest after sporadic FMD cases were reported in 2 counties in central Taiwan earlier this month [February 2009], an official said Wednesday [18 Feb 2009].
The deputy director of the Bureau of Animal and Plant Health Inspection and Quarantine (BAPHIQ) under the Council of Agriculture (COA), told an evening news conference that 15 pigs in a small ranch in [Yun-Lin] County were found on 4 Feb 2009 to have developed blisters in their mouths and feet, suspected of falling victim to FMD infection. "All of the 68 hogs in the farm have been culled," the deputy director said.
On 9 Feb 2009, 23 pigs in a large-scale farm in neighboring [Chang-Hua] County were also detected to have similar symptoms, the deputy director said, adding that all 609 pigs under the same roof have been culled and the remaining 5503 hogs raised in the farm have received anti-FMD shots [meaning "FMD vaccine" - Mod.AS] to prevent spread of the highly contagious viral disease that mainly affects cloven-hoofed animals, including pigs, cattle, and sheep.
Citing laboratory results released 17 Feb 2009, the deputy director said the viruses detected in the 2 hog farms were same as the O-type virus that originated in pigs smuggled from China in 1997, causing an outbreak in Taiwan in March the same year.
"The viruses found in the Yun-Lin and Chang-Hua ranches were not new strains and unlikely to infect humans," the deputy director said, adding that locally produced pork remains safe to eat.
According to the deputy director, all of the infected pigs had not received anti-FMD injections for some time in line with the country's plan to apply to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) for an FMD-free status.
"We were originally scheduled to come up with the application next year [2009], but the plan has to be postponed to the 2nd half of 2011 at the earliest because of the latest cases in Yun-Lin and Chang-Hua counties," Huang said.
After the first FMD case broke out in Taiwan on 20 Mar 1997, the deputy director said, Taiwan has been trying to stamp out the disease as quickly as possible. All pig farms and slaughterhouses around Taiwan have continuously conducted disinfections to prevent the spread of viruses.
At the same time, the percentage of pigs at nationwide hog farms receiving anti-FMD vaccine injections has dropped from 50 percent last November [2008] to the current level of less than 10 percent on average, moving toward a zero injection rate to meet the OIE's requirements, Huang said.

January

China - Hubei - FMD type A
24 Jan 2009
Sina [Trans. from Chinese by rapp.DS; edited] [Promed]
On 21 Jan 2009, the Ministry of Agriculture received a report from the National Foot & Mouth Disease [FMD] Reference Laboratory, confirming FMD Type A after a 13 Jan 2009 report of a suspected outbreak among dairy cows in East Xihu District of Wuhan City in Hubei Province.
After the outbreak, the Ministry of Agriculture dispatched an expert team to the outbreak area to guide prevention and control work. Hubei Province government has instituted emergency measures. Prevention and control work is progressing.
Related stories
24 Jan 2009
News QQ [Trans. from Chinese by rapp.DS; edited] [Promed]
During routine inspections on 14 Jan 2009, the animal health inspection station of Erbatai Interstate Highway in Kuchar County in ksu found that 1 of 34 heads of cattle being transported from Gulja Yining) County in Ili (Yili) Prefecture to Payzawat (Jiashi) County in Kashgar (Kashi) Prefecture displayed symptoms of suspected FMD. On 1 Jan 2009, the National FMD Reference Laboratory confirmed Type Asia 1 FMD.
In accordance with applicable stipulations, the Ministry of Agriculture and Xinjiang Uighur People's Government promptly carried out containment work, quarantining and disinfecting the outbreak area. The 34 sick heads of cattle and others from the same herd were all culled and safely disposed of. Emergency vaccinations were carried out on susceptible animals in the outbreak area and threatened areas. The outbreak has now been brought under control.


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