Home / Environment / Health Green Living Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read | Comment
Shanghai farms on foot-and-mouth disease watch
Adjust font size:

Shanghai's cattle farms have been placed under strict surveillance, and 440 cows were culled in a precautionary slaughter after foot-and-mouth disease was discovered recently in Fengxian District.

The outbreak occurred at the Wusi Cattle Farm, where symptoms of the disease were found in 41 milk cows on February 3.

Epidemic-control workers yesterday spread lime to disinfect a road near Shanghai's Wusi farm, where 41 cows showed symptoms of foot-andmouth disease. [Pei Xin/Shanghai Daily]

Epidemic-control workers yesterday spread lime to disinfect a road near Shanghai's Wusi farm, where 41 cows showed symptoms of foot-andmouth disease. [Pei Xin/Shanghai Daily] 

The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed that the animals were suffering from foot-and-mouth disease on Wednesday, the Shanghai Information Office said yesterday.

The office said the epidemic was under control and there were no reports of the illness at any other city farm.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious virus that can sicken cloven-hoofed animals. It can have widespread economic consequences for the livestock industry but does not cause illness in humans.

Animals infected with the disease will experience blisters on the skin of the mouth, feet and breasts.

City authorities launched emergency measures at the Wusi farm, including blocking off and disinfecting the area where the sick cows were found and killing those cows and all cattle they had been in contact with.

Shanghai has suspended all transport of milk cows and breeding cattle, and access has been restricted to all the city's cattle farms.

Non-essential staff and vehicles are banned from entering or leaving the farms, and those that do must be disinfected, officials said.

Cattle farms were also ordered to check the health condition of their milk cows regularly and report any abnormalities to veterinary authorities immediately.

A Shanghai Daily reporter who visited the Wusi farm yesterday found the gate closed and the road in front covered with thick lime.

The city's largest dairy producer Bright Dairy, which has shares in the Wusi farm, said yesterday that the company is not using milk from the farm.

But experts said people wouldn't be affected by foot-and-mouth disease anyway and that it's safe to consume milk and dairy products.

(Shanghai Daily February 13, 2009)

Tools: Save | Print | E-mail | Most Read
Comment
Pet Name
Anonymous

China Archives
Related >>
- Foot-and-mouth disease found in Shanghai
NGO Events Calendar Tips
- Environmental English Training (EET) class
- Hand in hand to protect endangered animals and plants
- Changchun, Mini-marathon Aimed at Protecting Siberian Tiger
- Water Walk by Nature University
- Green Earth Documentary Salon
More
Archives
Sichuan Earthquake

An earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter scale jolted Sichuan Province at 2:28 PM on May 12.

Panda Facts
A record 28 panda cubs born via artificial insemination have survived in 2006.
South China Karst
Rich and unique karst landforms located in south China display exceptional natural beauty.
Saving the Tibetan Antelopes
The rare animals survive in the harsh natural environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.
More
Laws & Regulations
- Forestry Law of the People's Republic of China
- Meteorology Law of the People's Republic of China
- Fire Control Law of the People's Republic of China
- Law on Protecting Against and Mitigating Earthquake Disasters
- Law of the People's Republic of China on Conserving Energy
More
Links:
State Environmental Protection Administration
Ministry of Water Resources
Ministry of Land and Resources
China Environmental Industry Network
Chengdu Giant Panda Research Base