China has reported a new outbreak of foot and mouth disease that sickened 230 cattle in the country's far west, the Ministry of Agriculture said.

Cattle in Gaoshi village in Gansu province first started showing symptoms on July 31, the ministry said in a statement posted on its Website yesterday.

Lab tests on Friday confirmed that it was the Asia 1 strain of the disease, the ministry said.

A total of 607 sheep, cattle and pigs were slaughtered, including the 230 sick cattle, it said, and the outbreak has been controlled.

Foot-and-mouth is not known to be a threat to humans, but is highly contagious among other mammals. The disease affects cows, sheep, goats and other cloven-footed animals, causing blisters on the mouth and feet.

(Shanghai Daily August 9, 2006)