Ankara: South Korea confirmed its first case of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in nine months at a cattle farm in the northwestern coast.

According to Anadolu Agency, the case was identified at a cattle farm in Incheon, prompting swift emergency measures as reported by authorities.

The discovery led to an immediate increase in alert levels in Incheon and the neighboring city of Gimpo from 'attention' to 'serious,' indicating a comprehensive response to the outbreak. Quarantine and disease control teams were dispatched to the affected farm to contain the situation, and all 246 cows on the ranch will be culled as per disease prevention regulations.

A 48-hour standstill order has been implemented for workers and vehicles associated with farms and livestock facilities across Incheon and Gyeonggi Province. Additionally, numerous disinfectant units have been deployed to sanitize farms and nearby roads to prevent further spread of the disease.

Foot-and-mouth disease impacts cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, and goats, but it does not pose a risk to humans. The last recorded outbreak in South Korea occurred in April of the previous year.