Outbreak Timeline Shows First Case in Incheon, Second in Goyang The initial foot‑and‑mouth disease (FMD) case was confirmed in Incheon, west of Seoul, roughly three weeks before February 20, marking the start of the current season’s outbreak. On February 20, authorities announced a second confirmed case at a beef cattle farm in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, confirming the disease’s spread to a new location[1]. Both detections triggered the activation of the government’s central headquarters for FMD response, which coordinates nationwide disease‑control actions[1].

Containment Actions Include 24‑Hour Standstill and Large‑Scale Culling To limit transmission, a 24‑hour movement ban was imposed on farm workers and vehicles accessing farms and livestock facilities in Goyang and adjacent areas, including parts of Seoul[1]. The response plan mandates the culling of 133 cows on the infected Goyang ranch, following established protocols for infected premises[1]. These immediate measures aim to create a buffer zone around the outbreak sites and prevent further spread among nearby herds[1].

Emergency Vaccination Targets Approximately 200,000 Animals Across Hundreds of Farms Officials will vaccinate and conduct clinical testing on roughly 200,000 animals located on 1,092 farms in Goyang, Paju, Yangju, and Seoul as part of an emergency response[1]. The campaign prioritizes cloven‑hoof livestock, including cattle, pigs, and goats, to establish herd immunity quickly[1]. Rapid deployment of vaccines and diagnostics is intended to contain the virus before it can establish additional infection clusters[1].

FMD Remains an Animal Disease With No Direct Human Health Threat Foot‑and‑mouth disease is an acute viral illness that spreads rapidly among cloven‑hoof animals but does not pose a health risk to humans[1]. The virus can be transmitted through direct contact, aerosols, and contaminated equipment, necessitating strict biosecurity measures on farms[1]. Public health officials have reiterated that while the disease can cause severe economic losses, it is not a zoonotic concern for the general population[1].