South Korea’s worst-ever outbreak of Foot and Mouth continued as a new case was discovered at a pig farm in Yesan, 134 kilometers south of Seoul. With meat prices soaring, losses exceeding $1 billion, and extensive culling of livestock representing decades of breeding and care, South Korea is facing a social and economic disaster. There is widespread belief that North Korea is also suffering from a Foot and Mouth outbreak, but details are limited. Bulgaria has reported a second outbreak and Vietnam has detected Foot and Mouth in Ha Giang. An outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease has also been reported in Gwanda, Zimbabwe. Local officials say the cause is the lack of fences, which therefore allow cattle to mix with infected wildlife. A vaccination campaign has begun, however the high cost of the vaccine adds difficulties to this effort to stop the spread of disease.
