The number of pigs, bulls and buffaloes hit by foot-and-mouth disease in Vietnam's central highlands Lam Dong province has risen to nearly 4,000, of which nearly 1,500 died, local newspaper Pioneer reported Thursday.

The disease has recently hit the animals in six out of 12 districts and towns in the province, mainly Duc Trong district.

The province on April 19 declared the outbreak in Duc Trong after samples from pigs in the district were tested positive to the type O of foot-and-mouth virus. By that time, over 2,250 pigs and bulls in Duc Trong were infected with the disease, some 800 of them died.

Lam Dong, home to 669 poultry and cattle trading bases, including nearly 500 operating without license, has banned trade and transport of cattle from Duc Trong to other areas.

Source: Xinhua