An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has infected 5,000 animals in Itezhi-tezhi district in Zambia's Southern Province, the official Times of Zambia newspapersaid Saturday.

Itezhi-tezhi district agricultural coordinator Frank Lubasi was quoted as saying that the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives has imposed a ban on the movement of livestock productsin the area with immediate effect.

He said more than 18,000 animals in the district are threatened by the disease, adding that in the Kabulungwe area, allthe animals have been infected.

The official said although the vaccination program had started,it is slow because of the delayed response from the government.

Of the 18,000 animals in the affected areas, only 3,400 have so far been vaccinated, he said.

Lubasi said a further 8,000 doses of vaccination have been received from the provincial health office, adding that 23,000 animals should be vaccinated if the disease is to be contained.

Source: Xinhua