South Korea confirmed four more cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) Friday, further indicating the animal disease may be spreading widely.
   
The four additional cases brought to 13 the total number of FMD cases confirmed since the first reported outbreak at a pig farm in Jincheon, North Chungcheong Province, on Dec. 3, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
   
The new cases were confirmed at three pig farms in Cheongju, Eumseong and Jincheon, all in North Chungcheong Province, and a pig farm in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province.
   
Since the first confirmed case, 14,491 animals have been destroyed.
   
FMD is a viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, such as cows, sheep and deer.
   
The ministry on Thursday raised the country's alert against FMD to the second-highest level, which allows the government to slaughter all animals at an infected farm.
   
The government regulation on FMD only requires infected animals or those showing symptoms be destroyed as a precaution. (Yonhap)