(Seoul=Yonhap News) Reporter Han Ju-hong = The Central ASF Incident Management Headquarters announced on the 7th that it confirmed an outbreak of African swine fever (ASF) at a pig farm in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province (housing 8,800 pigs) the previous day. This is the eighth occurrence this year, following previous outbreaks in Gangneung, Gangwon Province; Anseong and Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province; Yeongwang, Jeollanam Province; Gochang, Jeollabuk Province; Boryeong, Chungcheongnam Province; and Changnyeong, Gyeongsangnam Province. According to the management headquarters, the farm where ASF was detected this time is approximately 800 meters away from a Gyeonggi Pocheon pig farm where ASF occurred last month, and it was confirmed during a routine inspection of pig farms within the quarantine area where movement restrictions are currently in place. The management headquarters has dispatched an initial response team and an epidemiological investigation team to the farm to control the entry and exit of people and vehicles. The pigs at the farm are planned to be culled in accordance with the African swine fever emergency action guidelines (SOP). Considering that this outbreak is an additional occurrence within the inspection area of the previously affected farm, the management headquarters decided not to issue a temporary movement suspension order and to maintain the existing quarantine guidelines. The management headquarters urged related agencies and local governments to make all-out efforts for quarantine measures such as rapid culling, detailed inspection, and intensive disinfection to prevent the spread of ASF, and asked farmers to comply with basic quarantine rules. juhong@yna.co.kr