An pig farm in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, has been confirmed to have African swine fever (ASF). This comes just four days after the disease was detected in Boryeong, Chungnam, and Changnyeong, Gyeongnam. This brings the total number of ASF cases this year to eight. The ASF Central Incident Response Headquarters (headed by Song Mi-ryeong, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) announced on the 7th that ASF was confirmed at a pig farm in Pocheon. The number of pigs raised at the farm is estimated to be 8,800. This farm is located 800 meters away from another pig farm in Pocheon, which was the third farm in the region to be affected by ASF this year on January 24. The headquarters explained that the detection occurred during a routine inspection of pig farms within the quarantine area (radius of 10 km) where movement restrictions are in place. The headquarters dispatched an initial response team and an epidemiological investigation team to the affected farm to control the entry and exit of people, livestock, and vehicles. Following this, epidemiological investigations were conducted, and the pigs being raised were culled in accordance with the ASF emergency action guidelines (SOP). Considering that this outbreak is an additional case within the surveillance area of the previous outbreak farm, the headquarters decided not to issue a temporary movement restriction order (Standstill) and to maintain the existing quarantine area. Furthermore, disinfection of pig farms and surrounding roads in the Pocheon area will continue. A spokesperson for the headquarters urged related agencies and local governments to make all-out efforts for quarantine measures such as rapid culling, thorough inspection, and intensive disinfection to prevent the spread of ASF. The spokesperson also urged farmers to thoroughly disinfect the inside and outside of their farms and to follow basic quarantine rules such as disinfecting and changing boots when entering and exiting the barns. The number of ASF cases among domestic pigs has increased to 63 since September 2019. This year, outbreaks have occurred in Gangneung, Gangwon Province (January 16), Anseong, Gyeonggi Province (January 23), Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province (January 24), Yeongwang, Jeonnam Province (January 26), Gochang, Jeonbuk Province (February 1), Boryeong, Chungnam Province, and Changnyeong, Gyeongnam Province (February 3), and Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province (February 7, confirmation date). Reporter Kim Bo-gyeong bright@nongmin.com