South Korea confirms third case of foot-and-mouth disease

South Korea confirmed an additional case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) Thursday, one day after a suspected case of the animal disease was reported at a pig farm in the southeastern city of Hapcheon.

The latest case, the third of its kind, affected some 120 pigs at the farm in the city 350 kilometers from Seoul.
All pigs with symptoms of FMD at the Hapcheon farm have already been culled, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
The first case of FMD was reported at a pig farm in Uiseong late last month. It was the first outbreak since April 2011. FMD is a viral disease that can strike cloven-hoofed animals, including cows and sheep, according to Yonhap news agency.
South Korea had regained the status of a country free of FMD through vaccination in late May.
Currently, all farms are required by law to vaccinate their pigs and cows for FMD, but ministry officials said many farms refuse to do so because of the cost and possible deterioration in parts of meat from vaccinated animals.
Those who fail to vaccinate their animals for FMD face a fine, as well as a cut in government compensation in case of an outbreak, according to the ministry officials.
The last outbreak in 2011 led to the culling of nearly 3.5 million animals, causing over 2.73 trillion won (US$2.64 billion) in damage.