The National Foot and Mouth Disease Reference Laboratory, under the Ministry of Agriculture, confirmed the disease on Wednesday after 41 cows in the Wusi cattle farm started showing symptoms last week.

However, the government's press office yesterday maintained there was no reason to panic as the outbreak appeared to be "isolated to just one farm".

Local agriculture authorities culled some 440 cows in the farm as an emergency measure, and ordered immediate disinfection and quarantine of the site.

The disease has been controlled and there are no reports of more cases, local agriculture commission said.