Hapcheon County Steps Up to Prevent ASF Spread by Wild Boars... Drone-Based Quarantine at County Boundaries

Quarantine Measures Strengthened Following ASF Detected in Wild Boars Nearby
Focused Drone Spraying in Forests Around Pig-Dense Yaro and County Boundary Farms
Drones Used in Hard-to-Access Forests and Steep Slopes; Additional Spraying Planned if Needed

Hapcheon County in Gyeongnam used drones to spray wildlife repellents around the county boundary and pig farms after cases of African Swine Fever (ASF) were detected in wild boars in neighboring areas.

The county announced on the 23rd that, in cooperation with the Drone Task Force of the Animal Hygiene and Quarantine Support Headquarters, it conducted drone-based spraying of wildlife repellents around the pig-dense complex in Yaro-myeon and the vicinity of the county boundary where pig farms are located.

[Photo by Hapcheon-gun] Hapcheon-gun and the Livestock Hygiene and Veterinary Support Headquarters Drone Task Force are using drones to spray wildlife repellents in the pig-dense area of Yaro-myeon and near the military border area to prevent the introduction of African Swine Fever (ASF).

This measure was implemented as part of quarantine efforts to prepare for the possibility of wild boars moving through the county boundaries and to reduce their approach to pig farms.

The repellent was primarily sprayed over forest areas surrounding pig farms and along routes where the movement of wildlife is expected.

In particular, drones were deployed to spray repellent from the air in forested and steep slope areas that are difficult for quarantine personnel or vehicles and other equipment to access directly.

African Swine Fever is a viral livestock disease affecting pigs and wild boars. Accordingly, it is crucial in the quarantine process to manage the movement of wild boars and their access to farms, as well as to maintain internal and external biosecurity at farm sites.

Hapcheon County plans to continue monitoring and maintaining biosecurity measures around pig farms separately from this repellent spraying operation.

Additionally, the county plans to check for wild boar movements and monitor the ASF situation in neighboring areas, and, if necessary, conduct additional repellent spraying along the county boundary and around farms.

Going forward, the county will also distribute wildlife repellent to local pig farmers so they can independently use it for farm perimeter biosecurity.

Kang Byung-cheon, Head of the Livestock Division of Hapcheon County, said, "We are conducting surveillance and quarantine in the vicinity of farms and along the county boundaries to prepare for the potential introduction of ASF by wild boars," adding, "We will continuously monitor the situation and implement all necessary quarantine measures."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.