61% of Gyeonggi Residents View African Swine Fever (ASF) as Serious Concern
Suwon NewsPublished 2019.12.16 06:03
Survey of 1,000 residents on ASF awareness...75.6% say province's response to prevent spread 'was helpful'
[Suwon Ilbo=Park No-hun Reporter] According to survey results, 61.5% of Gyeonggi residents continue to view African Swine Fever (ASF) as a serious concern.
Gyeonggi Province conducted an awareness survey on 'African Swine Fever' targeting 1,000 residents on November 23rd and announced the results on the 16th.
According to the survey results, approximately three months after the first confirmed case of ASF in Gyeonggi Province on September 16, no cases have been reported in general pig farms, but 61.5% of residents responded that ASF is a 'serious problem' that negatively affects domestic livestock farms and national dietary life.
Since the outbreak of ASF, the province invested approximately 17.6 billion won in provincial budget until the survey date on November 23rd and implemented intensive measures including ▲culling of approximately 110,000 pigs from affected farms and nearby farms ▲operation of 123 control checkpoints and disinfection facilities ▲operation of 922 farm checkpoints to restrict entry and exit of pig farms ▲capture of wild boars.
In response, 75.6% of residents (very helpful 26.2%, somewhat helpful 49.4%) responded that these measures were 'helpful' in preventing the spread of ASF.
In particular, regarding Gyeonggi Province's swift initial quarantine and prevention measures, including quarantine, disinfection, culling, and movement restrictions when ASF first occurred in September, 78.6% of respondents (very 29.2%, somewhat 49.4%) answered that they were 'good measures'.
Additionally, when asked about who should be responsible for quarantine measures, residents responded that a greater role from the government is needed. The responsibility breakdown showed ▲government and relevant departments (64.5%) ▲provincial and local governments in affected areas (25.0%) ▲livestock farms in affected areas (8.1%). This is analyzed as reflecting the awareness that African Swine Fever is a national-level issue requiring government-led countermeasures in the future.
Regarding Gyeonggi Province's promotion of pork consumption such as the 'Our Korean Beef Love Campaign' to assist pig farming operations facing difficulties from ASF, 78.2% of residents answered 'it is doing well' (very well 30.5%, somewhat well 47.7%). Additionally, 42.3% of residents said they would increase their pork consumption.
Kim Jong-seok, director of the Province's Livestock and Forestry Bureau, stated, "Through this survey, we learned that residents view African Swine Fever quarantine and prevention of spread very seriously," and added, "We will continue to make our best efforts to prevent further spread, including promoting quarantine measures against wild boars."
This awareness survey was conducted by K-Stat Research on November 23rd through telephone interviews with 1,000 residents of the province. The survey results are based on a 95% confidence level with a margin of error of ±3.1%p.
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