Photo: Diego Azubel / EPA
In northwestern China, in Gansu province and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was detected in two herds of cattle. This was reported by China’s Ministry of Agriculture, Reuters says.
The outbreak involves foot-and-mouth disease serotype SAT1. In total, 219 infections were confirmed among 6,229 head of cattle. In response to the outbreaks, the authorities decided to cull the animals.
Experts note that this is the first case of foot-and-mouth disease serotype SAT1 being introduced into China, and existing vaccines do not provide the necessary protection against this strain.
Xinjiang borders the Altai Republic, where an outbreak of animal infections was also recorded, The Bell writes. According to Ura ru, as early as February there were 70 infection hotspots in Altai, and the authorities culled more than 1,600 animals.
There is a foot-and-mouth epidemic underway in Russia, according to a representative of a Novosibirsk agricultural holding interviewed by Novaya-Europe. In his view, until officials acknowledge this, more than half of the regions will not be able to begin preventive vaccination.