2 more cases of lumpy skin disease confirmed in S. Korea

South Korea reported two additional cases of lumpy skin disease (LSD) in cattle Thursday, officials said, raising the number of cases confirmed this year to seven. The two cases broke out at livestock farms located in Yangyang, 154 kilometers northeast of Seoul, and Pyeongtaek, 64 km south of Seoul, respectively, according to health authorities and the agriculture ministry. To prevent further infections, the government has cordoned off the affected farms and implemented quarantine measures, according to the officials. The agriculture ministry called on provincial governments to stay vigilant against additional cases breaking out across the nation and complete vaccination of cattle by the end of this month. LSD is a highly infectious disease that causes skin lesions, fever and loss of appetite, often leading to a fall in milk production and even death. It affects cattle and buffalo via mosquitoes and other blood-feeding insects. This year's first LSD case was reported at a livestock farm in Anseong, 65 km south of Seoul, on Aug. 12. Source: Yonhap News Agency