Vietnam's central highlands province of Dac Lac has been stricken by foot-and-mouth disease in the last few days, according to a local veterinary agency on Monday.

The disease broke out in the province's Krong Nang district from Feb. 16-22, affecting 126 pigs and 31 bulls, said the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The provincial Veterinary Bureau has disinfected affected farms, and vaccinated healthy cattle against the disease in the district.

Now, the disease has hit 24 communes in eight provinces, namely Tuyen Quang, Yen Bai and Thai Nguyen in the north, and Phu Yen, Quang Binh, Quang Ngai, Kon Tum and Dac Lac in the central region, said the department.

Under a national agriculture development plan approved by the government in 2005, Vietnam will, by 2010, have 35-40 million pigs, 6.5-6.7 million bulls and cows, 2.8-3 million buffaloes, and 380- 390 million poultry.

Source: Xinhua