Shanghai - Chinese authorities slaughtered more than 400 cows after foot-and-mouth disease infected cattle on the outskirts of Shanghai, state media reported Thursday.
A national lab confirmed the disease on Wednesday after 41 cows began showing symptoms last week, the official Xinhua news agency reported.
The 440 cows were culled as part of emergency measures, the report said, citing the agriculture ministry. The outbreak appeared to be isolated to one farm, it added.
China's last foot and mouth disease outbreak was in 2007. The disease only rarely affects humans, but is very contagious among cloven-hooved animals, including sheep, goats and cattle, and can kill them. - AFP