China's Ministry of Agriculture confirmed Tuesday an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in pigs in northwestern Gansu Province, but claimed the epidemic was under control.

The disease was first detected in 206 pigs in Yuzhong County, of Lanzhou, capital of the province, on March 14, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

The area was sterilized and 1,089 infected pigs and other livestock raised nearby were culled and disposed of properly, it said.

This was the third outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in pigs reported in China this month. The other two outbreaks were in Guangzhou and Shenzhen, both in southern Guangdong Province.

(Xinhua News Agency March 31, 2010)