A suspected foot-and-mouth disease has broken out in Southern province of Zambia, affecting 1,200 head of cattle, the official Zambia News Agency reported Monday.

Southern province veterinary officer Linous Munsimbwe was quoted as saying that the most affected area is Katengwa in Namwala district.

He said the disease is characterized by lesions on the foot andmouth in affected animals.

Munsimbwe attributed the disease to the presence of buffaloes in the area, which are carriers of the virus.

He said a team of veterinary officers in Namwala are already in the affected area to investigate and contain the disease.

He called on the central veterinary research institute to send a team of experts to get samples from affected animals and confirmthe disease.

Authorities in the province, he said, have imposed a provisional ban on movement of cattle in Namwala and Monze districts to prevent the further spread of the disease.

The veterinary department will quarantine animals and disinfectthe premises and infected materials in a bid to contain the disease, he said.

Source: Xinhua