Foot and Mouth Disease is a disease that attacks hoofed animals, so people who eat animal meat are afraid. 

Foot-and-mouth disease in South Korea: South Korea reported an additional case of foot and mouth disease (FMD) at a local cattle farm, raising the number of cases this year to 14, the agriculture ministry said on Monday. The latest case was found at a farm in Yeongam county, about 300 kilometers south of Seoul, which houses 31 cows, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs reported, according to Yonhap news agency.

What is foot and mouth disease?

FMD is an acute infectious viral disease that causes illness in cattle, pigs, goats and other cloven-hoofed animals. It does not affect humans. In livestock, this infectious viral disease causes fever followed by the development of vesicles characteristic of the mouth and feet. It is one of the most contagious diseases of livestock.

The latest outbreak comes after two

years. The country last reported FMD cases in May 2023. Acting President Choi Sang-mok has directed the relevant ministries to implement full preventive measures to contain the outbreak at an early stage.

"The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs should work together with relevant agencies to quickly carry out emergency work, including immediate slaughter, entry control, testing and disinfection, in accordance with emergency response guidelines," Choi said.

This meat was banned

Earlier in January, South Korea banned the import of German pork following an outbreak of the highly contagious FMD disease in the European country, Yonhap reported. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said the decision was taken after Germany reported its first FMD case since 1988.

How much impact on beef exports?

The ministry also said it expects little impact on beef exports as deals are usually made by regions. Last year, South Korea exported 49.5 tonnes of beef worth $2.9 million to 5 countries, including Malaysia, Mongolia and Saudi Arabia.

Failed to become FMD free

Seoul is working towards recognition as an FMD free country by the World Organization for Animal Health, but has failed after the disease outbreak in 2023.