The local government is taking strict quarantine measures in a village in east China's Jiangsu Province, which was hit by the foot-and-mouth disease, an official said Tuesday.

The Ministry of Agriculture confirmed two outbreaks of the highly contagious viral disease, which affects cattle, pigs, sheep and other livestock, in the country on Monday, one in Jiangsu, the other in northwestern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Twenty cows of farmer Li Ruixian in Duanzhai village, Beigou township of Jiangsu's Xinyi City showed symptoms of the disease on January 11.

Provincial veterinary authorities ordered an immediate disinfection and quarantine of the farm, as well as the inoculation of cattle in the area, after receiving the report, said Zhou Yalin, deputy mayor of Xinyi.

The farm, along its nearby area, was blocked, and 100 cows in the area were culled, Zhou said.

Seven cow raisers were also under quarantine and close medical watch.

More than 30 officials, who worked in turn, were watching around the clock the entrances to the village to disinfect people who enter or leave the village.

(Xinhua News Agency January 18, 2006)