Prime Miniser Han Duck-soo speaks during a meeting about prevention measures against African swine fever in the Government Complex Seoul, Aug. 19, 2022. Korea Times file

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Sunday instructed officials to take emergency containment measures as authorities confirmed more cases of African swine fever (ASF) at a pig farm in a southeastern county.

The instruction came after this year's sixth case of the virus, which is deadly to pigs but not harmful to humans, was confirmed at the farm raising some 900 pigs in Yecheon County, 161 kilometers southeast of Seoul.

Han ordered authorities to take relevant measures, including culling, a standstill order and an epidemiological analysis, the prime minister's office said in a statement.

Official close the gate of a pig farm where a case of African swine fever was confirmed in Hwacheon County, Gangwon Province, Sept. 26, 2023. Yonhap

A standstill order has been issued in Yecheon and six other counties and cities nearby, including Andong and Yeongju, through 6 a.m. Monday.

Authorities plan to conduct an epidemiological investigation, cull pigs at the farm, and disinfect the site and nearby roads.

The agriculture ministry said the culling is not expected to impact the supply of pork in the local market, noting that the farm in question raised just 0.008 percent of the total number of pigs in the country. (Yonhap)