Vaccination as a control measure during the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2000 in Korea

The Republic of Korea had been free from foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) for 66 years until 15 cases were confirmed between 24 March and 15 April in 2000. The FMD virus isolated in Korea was an O Pan Asia type, which was also responsible for the recent outbreaks in Japan and the U.K. Control measures including the stamping-out of infected animals on neighbouring farms, movement restrictions and emergency vaccination were implemented. The decision to vaccinate was made because the cattle affected were showing severe FMD lesions, there was significant possibility that a large amount of virus had already been shed and conditions at the time seemed to favour wind-borne spread. Also, because the spread was limited to cattle, it was assumed that the use of vaccinations would be more effective than if pigs had been affected. All susceptible animals within 10km radius of the infected farms were vaccinated with inactivated, double-oil emulsion vaccines. Totals of 860,700 and 661,770 animals were vaccinated during the first and second round of booster vaccinations, and were completed within five months of the first outbreak. The government decided to adopt a let-live policy so that the vaccinated animals were not slaughtered. However, they were placed under movement restrictions and had to be identified and registered. Although there were concerns about the vaccinated animals becoming carriers, extensive serological surveillance using NSP ELISA found no evidence of FMD in the remaining vaccinated population. The use of emergency vaccinations in 2000 is regarded as being a major factor in limiting the spread of FMD and containing the outbreak within a month.