ULAN BATOR, May 30 (Xinhua) -- An outbreak of the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has been confirmed in western Mongolia's Khovd province, local media reported on Saturday, citing the provincial governor's office.

"Laboratory testing has confirmed an outbreak of the highly contagious FMD virus in Bulgan soum (an administrative subdivision) of Khovd province. So far, 35 cattle belonging to seven herder households have been infected," the governor's office said in a statement.

The number of infected animals is expected to increase further. According to the statement, the outbreak zone is home to approximately 5,500 livestock.

A quarantine has been imposed in the affected area, and the necessary containment and response measures are being implemented.

FMD is a viral infectious disease that spreads among cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep and pigs.

Livestock herding remains a key sector in Mongolia, a country widely known for its nomadic heritage.

The landlocked Asian nation is seeking to develop its livestock industry by increasing meat exports as part of efforts to diversify its mining-dependent economy.

However, frequent outbreaks of animal diseases such as FMD and mad cow disease continue to hinder these efforts.

According to Mongolia's National Statistics Office, the country had 58.1 million head of livestock at the end of 2025, representing a 0.8 percent increase from the previous year. ■