The South Korean government said Tuesday that it will beef up nationwide quarantine inspections in order to stave off the wide spread of contagious animal diseases during the upcoming Lunar New Year's holiday.

The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease at pig farms in the southeastern region was confirmed early last month, but no additional cases have been reported since then.   

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs said it will run a monitoring team to stem the spread of FMD and bird flu during the Lunar New Year holiday season, when millions of people move across the nation to visit their hometowns and relatives.

This year's Lunar New Year falls on Feb. 8, with the holiday running through Feb. 10.

The ministry will disinfect livestock farms and facilities across the country this week, and operate 72 disinfection booths at important points to sterilize passenger cars and cargo trucks.

The quarantine authorities lifted a movement ban imposed on pigs bred in the suspected area last week.

Also, South Korea has not reported any additional confirmed cases of avian influenza since November last year. (Yonhap)