China confirmed on Monday the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and east China's Jiangsu Province.

Two heads of cattle raised by a farmer in Xuanhe Town, Zhongwei City showed symptoms of gum cankering and tongue blistering on January 4, with one dying the next day, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on their website on Monday.

Initial tests by the region's veterinary authorities suggest a possible Asia I strain of foot-and-mouth disease. The National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Lab confirmed the case on January 14, the ministry said.

Eighty-nine heads of cattle and 110 sheep have been culled in the vicinity to contain the spread of the disease, according to the ministry.

In a farm in Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province, twenty cows displayed symptoms of salivation on January 11, which was diagnosed as a suspected Asia I strain of foot-and-mouth disease by provincial veterinary authorities and confirmed by the National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Lab on January 16, according to the ministry.

100 heads of cattle have been killed in that region.

The outbreaks have been brought under control, the ministry said, adding that the areas around the two outbreaks have been sealed off and disinfected

The ministry also ordered the emergency vaccination of all susceptible animals in the vicinity of the outbreaks.

(Xinhua News Agency January 17, 2006)