South Korea’s techniques to diagnose foot-and-mouth disease(FMD), a highly contagious animal disease, have been recognized as an international standard.
 
The Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency said Tuesday that the World Organization for Animal Health(OIE) granted South Korea the status of a reference laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease at its 84th general session, which is now under way in Paris, France.
 
South Korea last year requested the international animal organization designate it as a reference laboratory for FMD. The application was approved by the organization’s Biological Standards Commission in February this year.
 
As a result, the South Korean agency holds the status of the world organization’s reference laboratories for six animal ailments, including brucellosis, Newcastle disease, chronic wasting disease among deer, rabies and Japanese encephalitis.
 
FMD refers to an infectious disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, such as cows, pigs, deer and sheep.