More countries joined a ban on Brazilian meat since the foot-and-mouth disease was found on southwestern cattle farms in the country more than a week ago, the Agriculture Ministry said Thursday.

The ministry added Bolivia, Singapore, Egypt, Mozambique, Namibia, Norway, Paraguay, Peru, Ukraine and Uruguay to the growing list of countries banning Brazilian beef imports.

Thirty-one countries had already banned Brazilian meat imports, including the United States, South Korea, Japan and Brazil's largest customers -- Russia and the 25-member European Union.

On Monday, authorities confirmed three new foot-and-mouth outbreaks in Mato Grosso do Sul, where the first outbreak was discovered on Oct. 10.

Following the discovery of the new cases, authorities quarantined the towns of Sete Quedas and Tacuru.

Brazil is the world's leading beef exporter with the largest commercial cattle herd estimated at 190 million head.

Mato Grosso do Sul has an estimated 25 million cattle, accounting for nearly half of Brazil's beef exports, which were expected to bring in at least 3 billion US dollars by the end of this year.

In a bid to contain the spread of the disease among the Mato Grosso herd, authorities have begun slaughtering 5,000 head of cattle. Antonio Donizeti, foreign trade chief of the National Farm Federation, has warned the disease may cost Brazil millions of dollars this year.

Foot-and-mouth fever is a fast spreading virus which affects cattle, buffalo, pigs, goats and sheep. The ministry says the disease does not harm humans.

Source: Xinhua