Buffer Zones Declared in New Bid to Contain African Swine Fever

The government on Wednesday designated six areas as buffer zones in a bid to prevent African swine fever from spreading into southern regions.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, they are Dongducheon, Goyang, Pocheon, Yangju and Yeoncheon in Gyeonggi Province, and Cheorwon in Gangwon Province.

Movement of vehicles within the buffer zones will be strictly controlled, and all vehicles other than passenger cars will be restricted from entering any pig farm in the area.

The ministry has also installed tracking devices on vehicles used by pig farms to more closely and accurately monitor their movement starting Thursday.

Another case of ASF was confirmed in Yeoncheon on Wednesday, bringing the total number of cases to 14 nationwide.