South Korea Confirms 15th African Swine Fever Case

South Korea recently confirmed its 15th case of African swine fever (ASF) for the season, prompting an escalation of quarantine efforts across the country during the Lunar New Year holiday to prevent further spread.

On February 14, 2026, the latest ASF infection was identified at a pig farm in Changnyeong County, South Gyeongsang Province, southeast of the capital city of Seoul.

This case caps a sharp rise in 2026 outbreaks, starting with the first in Gangwon Province, followed by detections in Gyeonggi, Jeollanam-do, Jeollabuk-do, Chungcheongnam-do, and multiple locations.

ASF is a highly contagious, often fatal viral disease exclusive to domestic pigs and wild boars, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

As of 2026, ASF poses no threat to human health because it is non-zoonotic and cannot infect people through contact with pigs or by consuming properly cooked pork. 

Even if someone consumes uncooked or undercooked pork from an infected pig, the virus does not infect human cells.

However, ASF outbreaks can cause substantial economic losses in the food supply.

First identified in 1921, the causative agent of ASF, African swine fever virus (ASFV), likely originated in a natural sylvatic cycle involving African wild suids and soft ticks, which serve as asymptomatic carriers and vectors, says the CDC.

A major global wave began in 2007 in Georgia with genotype II strains, reaching China in 2018 and triggering massive outbreaks across Asia and Europe.

In South Korea, ASF first appeared in domestic pigs in September 2019. The 2026 surge far exceeds the six farm outbreaks recorded in 2025.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs has urged farmers and citizens in South Korea to avoid swill feeding, limit contact with wild boar, and prevent contaminated imports amid holiday travel.

As of February 2026, the USDA says ASF has never been detected in the continental United States.