(Changnyeong=Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Jeong-hoon = The Gyeongnam Province announced on the 4th that it will cull 3,900 pigs in Changnyeong County following an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF). The province will swiftly bury 2,400 pigs from the confirmed ASF farm and 1,500 pigs from a farm within 500 meters of the confirmed farm. The farmer reported to the quarantine authorities after pigs continuously died over the past two to three days. The Central Task Force for the ASF Outbreak (hereinafter referred to as the Central Task Force) reported the confirmation of ASF on the 4th at dawn. The Central Task Force ordered a 24-hour suspension of pig movement and the prohibition of pig manure inflow and outflow in six cities and counties, including Changwon, Milyang, Hapcheon, Uiryeong, and Haman, which are adjacent to or near Changnyeong County in the 18 cities and counties of Gyeongnam Province, as well as in Cheongdo County, Goryeong County, and Daegu City in Gyeongbuk Province. At the same time, an epidemiological investigation team was deployed to determine the route of occurrence. The province deployed a quarantine team to control access to the affected farm and set up checkpoints on major roads. African swine fever first occurred in South Korea in 2019. Starting with the first occurrence in Paju City, Gyeonggi Province in September 2019, a total of 62 cases have occurred so far, including seven this year. This is the first occurrence of African swine fever in Changnyeong County in Gyeongnam Province. The Central Task Force upgraded the ASF alert level to 'serious' for all regions across the country in November last year. African swine fever is a viral pig infectious disease with a mortality rate close to 100% upon infection, and there is currently no vaccine or treatment available.