Foot and mouth Spreads to Japan’s Livestock Industry

Foot and mouth disease has spread to Miyakonojo city, Japan’s largest producer of pork and beef.

The outbreak in the southern prefecture of Miyazaki is threatening the nation’s livestock industry and feed grain demand, reports Bloomberg.

All 208 animals at a beef cattle farm have been culled after the government confirmed the outbreak of the disease, according to the animal health division of agriculture ministry.

Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan said the country is in a critical phase and it is important to act quickly to prevent the disease from spreading further.

In 2006 Miyakonojo city produced pork worth JPY22.5bn ($247m) and beef cattle valued at JPY15.1bn ($164m), according to the statistics from the agriculture ministry.

The government plans to cull an additional 113,600 animals, including uninfected ones, to contain the disease.