A new outbreak of foot and mouth disease (FMD) has been reported in northwest China's Qinghai Province, the Ministry of Agriculture confirmed on its website on Tuesday.

Cattle at three farms in Zhoulong village of Qinghai's Henan County began showing symptoms of the illness on July 1, and 51 cattle had been affected by July 6.

On July 7, the affected cattle were diagnosed with Asia-1 FMD by the National Foot and Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory.

Measures were implemented to close off and disinfect affected areas, cull and dispose of animals in a non-harmful manner.

Currently, the disease is under control, with a total of 212 cattle already having been culled, the ministry said.

(Xinhua News Agency July 12, 2006)