I'm watching the news today and it is sad that another lumpy skin disease (LSD) case hits Korea, bringing the total to 14 this year, according to the agriculture ministry. How can an illness like this spread in a country that prides itself on agricultural advances? But when it comes down to it, even a modern farming system isn't invulnerable to diseases that are caused or transferred by insects. I assumed that with all the tech and resources, we could control something like this better but still, here we are struggling just to contain the spread.
The Ministry's 24-hour standstill order for Munkyong and surrounding areas is a good decision but it I doubt it is enough.
At least, it halts immediate transmission, but does it really get to the root? I don't think this disease, spread by mosquitoes is something you can just contain with a few trucks and disinfectant. And what about the poor farmers there? They’re probably feeling stuck right now and fearing what’s next for them. Just one severe outbreak and livelihoods are at serious risk. This is not just about cattle, there's a ripple effect on the milk supply, beef prices and local economies, everything will be affected.
At the end of the day, this calls for more than temporary orders to be made, we need long-term strategies, preventive measures or maybe even a nationwide insect control plan. Because let’s face it, this isn't the last outbreak we'll see this year or the next.