Beijing, feb 22 (Reuters) – China detected disease in

cattle in a northwestern region but already destroyed to the

animals affected, State media reported on Wednesday.

The virus was found in four cows in Ningxia, said the

Ministry of agriculture, cited in a report by the Agency of

Xinhua News.

“All the infected cattle, as well as other 22 animals that

“”

had been raised with this, it has been sacrificed”, said the

report. “The epidemic has been contained”.

The foot and mouth disease is a very infectious disease to cattle and

sometimes fatal affects split hoof animals.

Last month, China reported an outbreak in pigs in the

central province of Hubei.

Of China’s swine population tends to be affected by the

disease, as well as the “blue-ear disease”, a

particular problem which in 2008 led to a shortage of pork

and a rise in the prices of meat.

(Report of Ben Blanchard, edited by Gabriel in Spanish

Burin)