"Infections were confirmed at five pig farms in the Gyeonggi and North Gyeongsang provinces," the Ministry for Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries said.

"The movement of pigs in the area was restricted and the animals were quarantined to eradicate the spread of the contagious disease," the ministry added.

The infections came amid the spread of the virus among people slowing down after causing more than 100 deaths among South Koreans over the past four months.

Although there is a possibility that the virus may spread from pigs to people, experts noted that the chances were slim, dismissing concerns that the swine infection might pose a threat to human health.