SEOUL, March 15 (UPI) -- South Korea has decided to provide quarantine equipment to North Korea to help curb a foot-and-mouth disease outbreak, Seoul officials said Thursday.
North Korea has reported an outbreak of the highly contagious animal disease, saying it has culled thousands of pigs and cows.
"The North asked us to send quarantine equipment while informing us of the current situation regarding the outbreak," Unification Minister Lee Jae-joung told a news briefing.
Responding the request, the South will provide quarantine equipment to the North, mostly materials for antibody induction, diagnosis kits and pasteurizers, Lee said.
"We should stop the commutable disease from crossing the inter-Korean border. Otherwise, it may spread to South Korean farms," he warned.
Foot-and-mouth disease is characterized by blisters in the mouth and on the feet of hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Although harmless to humans, it can be fatal to animals.
