South Korea culls 3.6 million poultry, 2.1 million pigs, cattle over disease fears

South Korea has culled 3.6 million poultry, mostly chickens, and 1.2 million pigs and cattle due to the countrywide outbreaks of avian influenza and foot-and-mouth disease.
The numbers represent roughly 3% of the country's poultry population and 15% of its pig and cattle population. Nationwide vaccination is currently taking place to stop the spread of both diseases. "The government set a policy to minimize slaughter against foot-and-mouth, while utilizing vaccination to prevent the disease," said President Lee Myung-bak.
Foot-and-mouth outbreaks began at the end of November, while the first case of bird flu was reported on Dec. 31. So far, the agriculture ministry has confirmed 120 cases of food-and-mouth and 26 cases of bird flu.