Some 28 head of cattle have been impounded in South Africa's northern province of Limpopo following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), according to official news agency BuaNews on Thursday.

Agriculture department spokesman Ndo Mangala said the outbreak in Seolwane near Giyani, about 450 km northeast of Johannesburg, is believed to have been contained as the animals were quarantined as soon as they showed symptoms.

Mangala said Seolwane borders a game ranch where some wild animals such as buffalo carried the disease.

"The area in which these cattle are found is prone to the disease and is always under surveillance, which means the animals are vaccinated at least twice a year," he said.

The department is now holding a campaign that includes vaccinating about 2,000 head of cattle a day.

Seven roadblocks have also been set up in the area where vehicles are being searched for beef or cattle.

"If a person buys a cow from here and takes it to another area, we risk spreading the disease to disease-free zones," he explained."We urge communities to bear with us until the disease is cleared."

The campaign is expected to run for the next two months, or until the department is satisfied that local cattle are disease free.

The 28 head that are still in quarantine are being vaccinated, treated and fed.

The FMD is a deadly viral disease that is able to spread rapidly among cattle, swine, and other cloven-hoofed animals.

Apart from death, it can cause permanent disability, and severe losses in the production of meat and milk in the animals it affects.

It rarely affects humans but causes a few mild symptoms including throat or nasal passage blockage.

Humans can however become carriers of the virus if they come in contact with contaminated livestock, soil, or objects, through their clothing, shoes and personal items.

Source: Xinhua