China: FMD in Tibet, 340 swine culled
18.09.2012
China’s Ministry of Agriculture announced that Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) infections have been confirmed in livestock in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Xinhua reports.
A total of 108 pigs and 123 live head of cattle at a village in Bomi County, Nyingchi Prefecture, showed symptoms associated with foot-and-mouth disease, according to the MOA.
The National FMD Reference Laboratory on Thursday confirmed that the livestock were infected with serotype-O FMD after testing samples collected at the farm, the MOA said.
Local authorities have sealed off and sterilized the infected area, where 340 pigs and 272 head of cattle have been culled and safely disposed of in order to prevent the disease from spreading since the case was confirmed, according to the MOA.
The outbreak was reported to have started in late February, according to a report received by the OIE from Dr Zhang Zhongqui, director general of the Veterinary bureau of the Ministry of Agriculture.
