SEOUL — South Korea's agriculture ministry announced on Friday (March 14) that a confirmed case of foot-and-mouth disease has been detected in a cattle farm, marking the country's first outbreak in nearly two years.

The infected farm is located in Jeollanam-do province, a southwestern region known for its livestock production. According to an official statement from the ministry, approximately 180 cattle at the affected farm will be culled to prevent further spread of the highly contagious disease.

"This is the first reported case since May 2023," a ministry spokesperson confirmed. "We have immediately implemented emergency measures including heightened surveillance and intensive disinfection protocols across surrounding areas."

The government has raised its animal disease alert level and mobilized rapid response teams to contain the outbreak. Additional quarantine checkpoints have been established along major transportation routes near the affected region.

Foot-and-mouth disease primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals including cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. The viral infection causes severe fever and painful blisters around the mouth and hooves, significantly impacting livestock health and productivity.

Agriculture officials emphasized that while concerning for farmers, this single case poses no risk to human health or food safety. Consumers can continue purchasing domestic beef products with confidence as all meat undergoes strict veterinary inspection before market distribution.