Foot-and-mouth disease broke out in northwest China's Gansu Province at the end of July, the Ministry of Agriculture confirmed Wednesday, forcing veterinary workers to cull more than 600 livestock.

The ministry reported on its website that cattle in Gaoshi village of Gansu's Huining County began showing symptoms of the illness on July 31.

On Aug. 4 the affected cattle were diagnosed as the Asia 1 strain of the disease by the National Foot and Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory.

A total of 607 sheep, cattle and pigs were slaughtered, including the 230 sick cattle.

The outbreak has been controlled after the Ministry of Agriculture and the Qinghai provincial government joined forces to cordon off and disinfect contagious areas, the report said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 10, 2006)