Japan confirms 1st foot-and-mouth outbrake in 10 years

TOKYO, (KUNA) -- The Japanese government confirmed Friday an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in the southern prefecture of Miyazaki, the first confirmed case in the country since 2000.

Three cows at a farm in Miyazaki suspected of being infected with the virus tested positive for the highly contagious disease, the Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry said, adding that the serotype of the infected cows was the same type as that found in South Korea this month. However, it is unknown whether the viruses were identical.

On Tuesday, the government imposed a temporary ban on beef exports after the three cows thought to have hoot-and-mouth disease were found in the town of Tsuno. According to the ministry, three other cows in another town in Miyazaki are also suspected of being infected with the virus.

Foot-and-mouth disease, also called "hoof-and-mouth" disease, is highly contagious and fatal to cattle and pigs, but rarely to humans. The disease affects all cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, deer and goats, and is classified as a "List A" disease by the Paris-based World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). Japan had been free of the disease for a decade with the last outbreak being reported in 2000. Japan exported 551 tons of beef in fiscal 2008, mainly to Vietnam, Hong Kong and the US.