Prime Minister Han Duck-soo instructed officials Thursday to undertake quarantine efforts against African swine fever (ASF) after the country reported its first outbreaks of the disease this year.

Han made the emergency instruction after authorities reported ASF at a pig farm in Yeongdeok County, 238 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on Tuesday, followed by another outbreak at a pig farm in Paju, just north of Seoul, earlier Thursday.

Han’s office said he ordered swift quarantine and culling measures at the farms in question, and called for thorough management of a temporary standstill order at some farms around Gyeonggi Province surrounding Seoul and those in Cheorwon County, 85 km northeast of Seoul.

Han made the instruction as he is currently in Switzerland to attend the World Economic Forum.

Source: Yonhap News Agency