Gov`t steps up quarantine against foot-and-mouth disease

Amid the spread of foot-and-mouth disease throughout the world, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry designated Thursday as ``disinfection day`` and conducted the work of disinfecting barns across the country in cooperation with livestock organizations and anti-epidemic authorities.

Earlier, the government formed an inter-government Special Countermeasures Committee on the disease, headed by Agriculture-Forestry Minister Han Kap-Soo, and designated the time until the end of April as a special period for countermeasures. Livestock farmers were asked to report any emergencies to government authorities through a special hotline number (1588-4060).

The ministry also banned imports of meats from cloven-footed animals in disease-ridden countries. It also strengthened quarantine inspections of goods brought into the country by overseas travelers.

Sin Yeon-Su ysshin@donga.com