The Chinese Customs Administration on Thursday, July 22, imposed a ban on import of cows and beef from Laos to prevent the spread of Lumpy skin disease.

China took this measure after Laos reported the first outbreaks of the disease in cattle in early July, Reuters reports. Last year, this disease was also recorded in animals in China.

Lumpy skin disease in cattle is caused by the smallpox virus, according to agriculture.vic.gov.au.

Since 2012, it has been spreading in Africa and the Middle East, and has also been recorded in southeastern Europe, in particular in Greece, Bulgaria and some Balkan countries. The World Organization for Animal Health encourages its members at risk to initiate vaccination campaigns before the virus enters the territory.

Source: Sfera FM