The recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has spread nationwide despite efforts by South Korea’s quarantine authorities to contain it, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.

As of Thursday, 50 cases of the disease occurred in 13 cities and districts, mostly in the central region of the peninsula. North Chungcheong Province ― the epicenter of the outbreak ― was the hardest hit with 25 regions being affected.

Authorities have even confirmed a case of the disease at the nation’s administrative capital Sejong, where the quarantine center itself is located. Over 44,000 livestock ― mostly pigs ― have been slaughtered since the outbreak was discovered on Dec.3.

The infectious and sometimes viral disease has been known to affect cloven-hoofed animals such as pig, cow, sheep and deer.