An outbreak of Asia Type One foot-and-mouth disease has occurred in Changqing District of Jinan City, capital of east China's Shandong Province, China's Ministry of Agriculture announced on Friday.

Altogether 91 cattle in the farm which reported the outbreak have been culled by the provincial veterinary bureau, the Ministry said.

Some cattle on a farm in Changqing District developed symptoms of bad appetite and fever on December 6, and 48 cattle had fallen ill by December 25.

The provincial veterinary bureau reported the case as a suspected outbreak of the foot-and-mouth disease after initial tests on December 26. It was confirmed by the state laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease control on December 29.

Apart from culling the entire herd which the sick cattle belonged to, the Shandong provincial government and the Ministry of Agriculture also ordered an immediate disinfection and quarantine of the outbreak site, as well as a thorough inoculation of all vulnerable animals in the region.

(Xinhua News Agency December 31, 2005)