Bovine lumpy dermatitis identified for the first time in South Korea

The first outbreak was detected on October 20, 2023, near the city of Seosan, located in Chungcheongnam-do province. Although the incubation period for lumpy skin disease typically ranges from 4 to 14 days, over the next 3 days, 10 more outbreaks were reported in the cities of Danjin and Taean in Chungcheongnam-do Province, as well as in the areas of Pyeongtaek and Gimpo in the province. Gyeonggi-do.

South Korean authorities announced the launch of an emergency vaccination program on farms located within a radius of 10–20 km from outbreaks of the disease. For this purpose, drugs from government reserves will be used, which were created after reports of outbreaks of nodular dermatitis in neighboring countries. The country currently has 540 thousand doses of vaccine at its disposal.

Large producers will have to immunize animals themselves. For farms with a livestock of less than 50 animals, teams of veterinarians will work. It is noted that specialists taking part in vaccination will be prohibited from entering other farms for a week, so at present only veterinarians working in government institutions are involved in the work.

Immediately after the outbreak was confirmed, the movement and transportation of cattle was completely prohibited in the country, the publication notes.