Seven East Asian nations have agreed to establish a network to prevent contamination of the fearful endemic foot-and-mouth disease.

According to the Korea Agriculture and Fishery Ministry, relevant officials from the seven nations including South Korea, Japan, China, Russia, Mongolia, Taiwan and the Philippines and officials from the International Secretariat for Territorial Waters plan to discuss ways to curb the spread of the disease.

The network will facilitate the exchange of information concerning immunization and sterilization against the disease. They also agreed to check the feasibility of the on-going precautionary program of the foot-and-mouth disease which has been in operation since last September.