Pork prices soared in Korea upon fears of an outbreak in the African swine fever after second case was identified in Yeoncheon, Gyeonggi Province, on Wednesday despite quick and highest quarantine actions since the report of the first case in Paju just a day before.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on Wednesday that it confirmed the second case of African swine fever at a farm raising 4,700 pigs in Yeoncheon, a county located near the inter-Korean border and about 48 kilometers away from Paju where the first outbreak of the animal disease was identified on Tuesday.

The government designated six cities and counties near the border with North Korea including Paju, Yeoncheon, Pocheon, Dongducheon, Gimpo and Cheorwon as tight control zones. It said it will focus its capability on containing the spread of the highly infectious disease.

The wholesale prices of pork surged 31.1 percent from the previous day to 5,975 won ($5) per kilogram on Tuesday at the nation’s auction markets after the first case was confirmed. The prices further climbed to 6,202 won as of 2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, exceeding the 6,000 mark for the first time since the beginning of the year. Market sources predicted the prices are likely to shoot up considering they soared 120 percent in six months at the height of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2010 and 2011.

In the stock market, shares of local animal vaccine and medicine producers skyrocketed. Shares of Eagle Veterinary Technology closed 29.43 percent higher at 10,600 won, WooGene B&G 29.23 percent up at 4,090 won and Gene Biotech 8.53 percent up at 6,490 won on the secondary Kosdaq market. Shares of the nation’s poultry processors also jumped on expectations of growing demand as a substitute for pork, with Harim stock up 20.05 percent at 4,400 won and Maniker 28.18 percent higher at 1,410 won.

The deadly animal disease was first reported in China in August 2018, which has led to a massive culling and a near 40 percent pork price hikes since the outbreak. The disease has been quickly spreading to neighboring countries including Vietnam and Mongolia, and North Korea reported its first outbreak near its border with China in May.

By Lee Yu-sup and Choi Mira

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