FMD continues to spread. Even in vaccinated areas, FMD is occurring, which suggests that vaccination will fail to contain the disease.

North Korea has reported FMD outbreaks in seven areas including Pyongyang. The first case was confirmed on December 25, 2010 in North Pyeongan Province. About 1,000 cattle and pigs were infected. About 85% of them died from the infection (were not culled).

Map is dated Jan. 22.

1. FMD Cull Numbers as of February 24, 2011

Rough total = 3,416,792 (6104 farms)

Cattle = Cattle: 150,823 (3,741 farms and 15% of all cattle)
Pigs = 3,256,170 (1,987 farms, 95% of the total culling and 33% of all pigs.)
Goats: 6,713 (225 farms)
Deer: 3,086 (151 farms)

Number of cases: 201 case reported and 150 confirmed

Dogs have also been killed. A report from Chuncheon says around 60 dogs were also buried alive with other animals.

Around 100,000 animals have been buried alive every day. The government has offered national forests for burial as local authorities are running out of suitable burial sites. This may lead animals to suffer more as they will have to be driven farther from their farms. Another serious concern is that disease could spread wider and that more ground water contamination could occur.

About 63,447 tons of leachate is expected to result from buried animals.

The government planned to finish a census of 4,054 FMD burial sites and 197 AI burial sites by March 4 to prevent environmental pollution.

2. Avian Flu Cull Numbers as of February 16, 2011

Total = 5,454,895 (243 farms, chickens and ducks)

Number of cases = 40 in 16 cities and regions.

In South Jeolla province alone, around 3 million birds were killed across 130 farms. AI is rampant especially in South Jeolla, where 37 million chickens/ducks (13,000 farms) are bred.

In 2008, 22 chicken farms and 11 duck farms were affected but in 2011, 21 out of 26 cases were from duck farms. The government has no clear answer but says that 99% of ducks are bred to be sold to large companies and these farms receive the same feed for ducks, which could be a reason. While chickens would die of the disease soon after contagion, it takes longer for ducks to die. So it might be that the viruses were present for a long time in South Jeolla and Choongcheong areas before being discovered.

Also on Jan. 20, the rare Avian Tuberculosis was found in Gangreung, Gangwon Province, for the first time since 1961. Although the disease doesn’t spread fast, there is no cure or vaccine. So birds (around 3,000-6,000 or more) are likely to be killed and buried alive in this area.

(photo © 경북매일신문 & kbmaeil.com)

3. Euthanasia

Succinylcholine (for human surgery) was used. This drug is a neuromuscular blocking agent that induces muscle paralysis without loss of consciousness. So this drug is not acceptable as a sole agent for euthanasia. Because cattle were the main focus of government efforts, pigs were not given succinylcholine.

The total amount of the drug available was 200,000 ampules (this is the exact number supplied by the manufacturer).

1~3 ampules are needed to kill cattle (2-6 for pigs):

1 x ampules kills through intravenous injection
3 x ampules kills through intramusclar injection

Cattle were mainly killed through muscle injection. But after one month of the FMD outbreak, the drug had run out (on December 29, 2010). At that point we can presume live burials were used exclusively for cattle and all other animals.

However, Korea is reported to have imported 33,000 ampules of Succicholine from China. But this drug has problems (gel type, not liquid type) and does not work fast and animals suffer for a long time.

As many more people criticize the government, the Ministory of Agriculture is considering alternative drugs or gas (but is not confirmed) and more muscle relaxants will be imported.

There are also unaffected farms asking the government to kill their animals (especially, new-borns) because the farmers are prohibited from transporting their animals and the animals keep breeding when there is not enough food or space for them.

Reports said that some pigs were gassed in a pit rather than buried alive. However, even this seems to have traumatized the workers.

4. Vaccinations

So far, 2 million cows (58%) and 756,000 pigs (7.6%) have been vaccinated. Nationwide vaccination began on 16 January. From 21 January, 0.5 million cows and pigs in Jejudo Island as well as 6.6 million pigs in the country will be vaccinated.

By the end of January, 11 million vaccines (for 4 million animals) will be secured. Korea will keep importing vaccines. The government plans to finish the first-round vaccination before Seoul holiday (2-6, February).

Around January 15, mass vaccinations will take place across the country (decided on 13 January). All cows, sows, boars, and fed pigs in breeding farms will be vaccinated. As 2.25 million vaccines will arrive on 15 January, 1.46 million cows and 0.65 million pigs will be vaccinated on this day. And then, the remaining fed pigs will be vaccinated. Finally, 0.5 million pigs and cows in Jeju Island will be vaccinated.

However, mass vaccination does not include piglets. It is likely that pigs will remain the least protected animals.

The country has prohibited manufacturing of vaccines for FMD as people may get affected in the manufacturing process. In addition, Korea has no special facilities that are devoted to research on these diseases.

In the meantime, the government said in a newspaper interview that the country is considering changing the status from free of disease without vaccination to free of disease with vaccination (the second-degree OIE standard). This means Korea will give up the first-grade OIE standard and keep vaccinating animals against FMD, as Taiwan did. But this is not certain yet.

1st round vaccination: Dec. 25, 2010 to Jan. 31, 2011

2nd round vaccination: Jan. 26, 2011 to Feb. 26, 2011 (11.7 million animals)

On January 29, Jeju Island started vaccinating animals. The OIE had last declared the island free of the disease without vaccination (the first level) in May 2001.

370,000 goats and deer will be vaccinated as soon as possible.

5. Percentage of Live Burials

At the most conservative estimate, based on pig numbers only, since all pigs were buried alive, over 90% of animals were buried alive. Many other animals, including cattle have met the same fate; however, it is unknown what percentage of those animals were buried alive.

Also, at the same time foot-and-mouth has been sweeping Korea, there were bird flu outbreaks and a separate culling operation began for that.

Based on the live burials of birds and pigs, a minimum 97% of all animals have been buried alive since November 29, 2010.

6. Human Death Toll

Seven public officials have died and 36 have been severely injured in culling operations. About 100 officials were slightly injured. Several farmers committed suicide after their farms became infected.

Korean Sources for Cull News (in English):

English newspapers in Korea seem reluctant to provide evidence of live burial while there are many more reports of live burial in Korean language newspapers.

Dec. 21, 2010: Foot and Mouth Spreading

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2929931

Dec. 23, 2010: Govt. Still Contemplation Vaccinations

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2930052

Dec. 25, 2010: Govt. Finally Starts Vaccinations

http://www.koreaherald.com/national/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20101225000038

Dec. 28, 2010: Fight Against Food and Mouth Picking Up

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2010/12/123_78747.html

Jan. 3, 2011: Korea Expands Vaccinations to Stem FMD

http://www.koreaherald.com/business/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20110103000860

Jan. 3, 2011: Pigs Burial Raises Concerns Over Water Contamination

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/01/117_79094.html

Jan. 6, 2011: Massive Culling As FMD Spreads

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/01/116_79256.html

Jan. 6, 2011: Govt. Finally Orders Pig Vaccinations

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2011/01/06/

Jan. 12, 2011: Healthy Animals Are Rushed to Slaughter

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/article/view.asp?aid=2930867

Jan. 12, 2011: More FMD Cases in Central Korea

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/business/2011/01/12/15

Jan. 14, 2011: Korea Seeks to Regain FMD-Free Status

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/news/2011/01/14/

Jan. 16, 2011: New Disease Quarantine Team Will Be Set Up

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/01/116_79624.html

Jan. 17, 2011: Live Burial Brings International Boycott of Korean Goods

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/01/117_79843.html

Jan. 17, 2011: Alternative to FMD Culling Must Be Found

http://english.khan.co.kr/khan_art_view

Jan. 17, 2011: Disease-free Farm Due Farmer's Own Prevention Methods

http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/459153.html

Jan. 17, 2011: Korea Gaining Over Disease Amid Harsh Criticism

http://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/South-Korea-Claiming-Upper-Hand-in-Farm-Battle-Against-Foot-and-Mouth-Disease-113871474.html

Jan. 17, 2011: Live Burial Provokes Mass Uproar

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/01/117_79769.html

Jan. 21, 2011: Demonstration Over Live Burials

http://www.naeil.com/news/eboard_view.asp?location=1&mn_id=2881

Jan. 21, 2011: Rare Avian Flu Found For the First Time in 50 Years

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/01/117_80111.html

Jan. 25, 2011: Government Admits Faults in Countermeasures

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/01/117_80328.html

Jan. 26, 2011: FMD and Mass Movement for Lunar New Year

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/01

Jan. 29, 2011: [Editorial] Brazen response to the foot-and-mouth outbreak

http://www.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_editorial/461295.html

Jan. 30, 2011: Is Full Compensation Causing A Moral Problem?

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/biz/2011/01/123_80615.html

Jan. 30, 2011: Eerie Silence Reigns Over FMD-hit Villages

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2011/01/117_80584.html