In this study, we used a choropleth map to explore the spatial variation of the risk of cattle herds being bovine tuberculosis (BTB) positive in Gangwon-do in 2015. The map shows that the risk of being BTB-positive was lower in provinces located in the middle of Gangwon-do (Wonju, Youngwol, Peongchang, and Kangneung) than in other provinces. In addition, one province located in the north (Goseong) had a low risk of BTB. The estimate for the intercept of the spatial lag model was 0.66, and the spatial autocorrelation coefficient (lambda) was 0.20 (Table 1). The Moran’s I was 0.33 with p-value of 0.02. In 2015, provinces located in the North West (Hwacheon) and East (Donghae) of Gangwon-do had a higher BTB risk. We identified some specific provinces at low BTB-positive risk, information that may prove useful for control of BTB in the study area.

This paper describes the epidemiological characteristics of bovine tuberculosis in Korea during January 2000 to September 2004, when the incidence of bovine tuberculosis increased markedly: a total of 1,054 herds (4,197 cattle) were confirmed to be infected with Mycobacterium bovis during this period. Based on the record of epidemiological investigation, introduction of purchased cattle (22.9%, 125/545) into a farm was the most frequent transmission route of M. bovis infection. On 31.7% (335/1,054) of the infected farms, recurrent infection occurred more than once before the disease has been eradicated completely. The highest rate of recurrence was detected around 70 days after the initial test of the infected herd, which seems to be related to current regulation on the test of animals that cohabited with those previously diagnosed with infection in farms, rather than to the characteristic of the disease. Although the current eradication program has been effective in controlling the disease in dairy cattle in Korea, control measures more specific to beef cattle may be needed because infection rate in beef cattle continues to increase in recent years.