Holiday Ayo - South Korean quarantine authorities issued a national alert on November 25, calling for increased quarantine measures against African Swine Fever (ASF) after the country confirmed its sixth case this year.

The latest case was reported at a pig farm in Dangjin City, South Chungcheong Province. The farm housed 463 pigs, according to officials at the Integrated Disaster Management Headquarters.

In response, local authorities issued a red alert, the highest level, nationwide to prevent further spread of the disease.

Local officials reported that the government had culled 1,423 pigs from the affected farm and other nearby farms owned by the same owner.

The government also issued a 48-hour standstill order for all pig farms and related facilities nationwide.

In addition, authorities are conducting disinfection measures in Dangjin and surrounding areas and conducting emergency inspections of pig farms in the area.

"Five previous cases this year were reported in northern Gyeonggi Province. However, the latest case has emerged in South Chungcheong Province, which has the largest pig farming capacity in South Korea. This makes the situation much more serious and increases the risk of a nationwide outbreak," an official from the Ministry of Agriculture said, as quoted by The Strait Times.

"We will mobilize all available resources to prevent additional cases and fully control the spread of ASF," he added.