See also: 6 December 2002, 25 October 2002, 18 October 2002, 11 October 2002, 31 May 2002, 3 May 2002, 19 April 2002

Information received on 3 January 2003 from Dr Hee-Woo Lee, Director, Animal Health Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Seoul:

End of previous report period: 2 December 2002 (see Disease Information, 15 [49], 254, dated 6 December 2002).

End of this report period: 2 January 2003.

New outbreaks

Description of affected population in the new outbreaks: pig-fattening holdings.

Diagnosis: see previous report.

Epidemiology:

A. Source of agent / origin of infection: not yet known. Under investigation.

B. Mode of spread: unknown. Under investigation.

C. Other epidemiological details:

- One further outbreak occurred in Gimpo and the affected holding is located in the restricted area (see Disease Information, 15 [49], 254, dated 6 December 2002).

- A new outbreak occurred in Icheon city, about 100 km to the south-east of Gimpo and Incheon.

Control measures during reporting period:

- screening;

- movement control of animals of susceptible species within the protection zones (within a radius of 3 km around the infected holdings) and surveillance zones (within a radius of 10 km) which were promptly set in place;

- immediate slaughter and destruction of all pigs in the affected holdings;

- as a new outbreak of classical swine fever (CSF) occurred in Icheon city, an emergency vaccination (ring vaccination) policy for pigs has been applied since 25 December 2002 in the affected cities and counties (Gimpo, Incheon, Gwanghwa, Icheon, Seogu) and the vaccinated animals have been marked.