China's Ministry of Agriculture has confirmed an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, involving eight heads of cattle in northwestern Qinghai Province. The situation has been controlled.

Sources in the Ministry said on Thursday that the affected cattle in Datong County were diagnosed with Asia Type One FMD by the National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory on Tuesday, after showing signs of illness last Thursday.

So far, 70 cattle have been culled, with the contagious areas cordoned off and disinfected. All other livestock at risk have also been vaccinated.
 
(CRI February 16, 2007)