An outbreak of a new strain of foot-and-mouth disease entered China through its northwestern border — from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia. Reuters reported this, citing a statement from the authorities.
According to the agency, border provinces were ordered to step up patrols and prevent the disease from entering through smuggling or illegal transportation.
A day earlier, Reuters reported on the foot-and-mouth epidemic in Gansu province and the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in northwestern China. In total, 219 infections were recorded among 6,229 head of livestock. In response, the authorities decided to cull the animals.
Experts note that this is the first case of the SAT1 serotype of foot-and-mouth disease entering China, and existing vaccines do not provide the necessary protection against this strain.
Xinjiang borders the Altai Republic, where an outbreak among animals was also recorded. Back in February, there were 70 infection hotspots in Altai, and the authorities culled more than 1,600 animals.
In Russia, a representative of a Novosibirsk agricultural holding who spoke with «Novaya-Europe» believes a foot-and-mouth epidemic is already underway. According to him, until officials acknowledge this, more than half of the regions will not be able to begin preventive vaccination.