South Korea’s foot-and-mouth disease response headquarters said surveillance testing identified the disease at a cattle farm in Yecheon County, North Gyeongsang Province, on Oct. 3. The farm keeps 98 cattle, and 10 animals tested positive for the virus antigen. It was already subject to movement restrictions because it lies within a three-kilometer disease-control zone established after an earlier Yecheon outbreak was confirmed on Sept. 3.
- Farm herd
- 98 cattle
- Positive animals
- 10 cattle
- Control-zone radius
- Three kilometers
- Detection date
- Oct. 3, 2026
Authorities sent an initial response team and epidemiological investigators to the farm. Access by people, livestock and vehicles has been restricted while officials investigate possible transmission routes. The government plans to dispose of the 10 positive cattle after detailed and clinical examinations, with additional animals subject to disposal if they show symptoms or test antigen-positive.
The latest finding brings South Korea’s official total for 2026 to 14 foot-and-mouth disease cases. Nine have been recorded in Yecheon, two in Goyang and three in Ganghwa. The concentration of cases in Yecheon has prompted authorities to intensify controls in and around the existing outbreak area rather than treating the farm as an isolated detection.
Disinfection expands across neighboring areas
Officials are deploying 69 disinfection and disease-control vehicles across Yecheon and six neighboring jurisdictions: Andong, Uiseong, Sangju, Mungyeong and Yeongju in North Gyeongsang Province, and Danyang in North Chungcheong Province. Farms keeping cloven-hoofed animals, livestock facilities, transport vehicles and nearby roads are included in the concentrated cleaning and disinfection effort.
The response headquarters also ordered nationwide telephone surveillance of farms keeping susceptible livestock and designated Oct. 4 through Oct. 10 as an intensive disinfection week. Farmers in affected areas were urged to vaccinate every eligible animal, restrict outside access and thoroughly clean and disinfect farm premises. Livestock vehicle operators were instructed to disinfect both interiors, including pedals and steering wheels, and exteriors such as wheels and cargo areas. The next key indicators will be results from expanded testing and whether additional antigen-positive or symptomatic animals are identified.