Foot-and-mouth disease confirmed in Tibet

The Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) said Friday that infections of foot-and-mouth disease have been confirmed in cattle in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

A village in Nedong County in Shannan Prefecture reported that 11 cattle displayed symptoms on May 6, according to the MOA.

The National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory on Friday confirmed that the cattle are infected with type A foot-and-mouth disease.

To prevent the disease from spreading, local authorities have sealed off and sterilized an infected area where 56 cattle were culled and safely disposed of, according to the MOA.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a contagious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild species within the family Bovidae.