Foot-and-mouth disease reported in east China

Foot-and-mouth disease infections have been confirmed in livestock in China's eastern Jiangsu Province, the Ministry of Agriculture said Monday.

A total of 12 pigs at a food company in Changzhou City of Jiangsu, which were transported from out of town, showed symptoms associated with the foot-and-mouth disease, according to the ministry.

The National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory confirmed that the pigs were infected with type O foot-and-mouth disease on Monday after the provincial animal epidemic prevention and control center diagnosed it as a suspected case, it said.

Local authorities have sealed off and sterilized the infected area, where a total of 338 pigs have been culled and safely disposed of in order to prevent the disease from spreading, said the ministry.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a contagious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild bovid.