ULAN BATOR, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- An outbreak of lumpy skin disease in animals has been reported in eastern Mongolia, local media reported on Saturday, citing the country's General Authority for Veterinary Services (GAVS).
The disease, a viral infection of cattle characterized by fever, enlarged superficial lymph nodes and multiple nodules on the skin and mucous membranes, has spread to three eastern provinces of Mongolia, namely Khentii, Sukhbaatar and Dornod, and these provinces have been quarantined for an indefinite period.
Sukhbaatar and Dornod border China, while Khentii borders Russia.
The disease has never occurred in Mongolia before, according to the GAVS.
This year, the prevalence of highly contagious diseases in animals is high in the country. Particularly, the deadly foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) among cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep and pigs has broken out in more than half of Mongolia's 21 provinces.
The livestock sector is a main pillar of the Mongolian economy with around 70 million heads of livestock in the country.
The country's meat exports have been suspended since June due to infectious animal diseases, according to the Mongolian National Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Enditem
