The animal quarantine authorities of the Agriculture Ministry on Tuesday confirmed the first breakout of foot-and-mouth disease in eight months, vowing stronger watch on the spread of the livestock disease. 

The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency, or QIA, said the 700 pigs at a farm in Gimje, North Jeolla Province, tested positive for foot-and-mouth disease, a day after the initial report. All 700 were secluded and destroyed.
 
The infectious disease affects cloven-hoofed animals, with mortality rate of 50 to 80 percent. 

The Agriculture Ministry dispatched specialists to Gimje to prevent further infection and to restrict access of animals and vehicles within 3 kilometers of the farm.

Following the quarantine move, the Ministry of Public Safety and Securities raised the alert level for the foot-and-mouth disease by a notch, to the second highest level.

By Chung Joo-won (joowonc@heraldcorp.com)