ULAN BATOR, June 25 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia on Wednesday launched a vaccination campaign against the SAT-1 strain of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
Outbreaks of the SAT-1 strain were first confirmed in the western provinces of Bayan-Ulgii and Khovd in late May.
"Today, the vaccination campaign against the SAT-1 strain of FMD began in Khovd province. The campaign will start in Bayan-Ulgii tomorrow," Tsagaankhuu Iderbat, minister of food, agriculture and light industry, said in a statement.
The minister said that all cloven-hoofed livestock in the two provinces will be vaccinated against the SAT-1 strain.
Iderbat added that the vaccines will be used to immunize livestock in other at-risk provinces and establish a protective buffer zone against the disease.
FMD is a highly contagious viral disease affecting cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. The SAT-1 strain is considered particularly virulent and can spread rapidly through airborne transmission, contaminated vehicles, equipment, humans, and wild animals, the veterinary authority has said.
Meanwhile, cases involving the O serotype of the FMD virus have also been reported in several provinces across the country. The O serotype is responsible for the majority of FMD outbreaks worldwide.
Livestock herding remains a cornerstone of Mongolia's economy, and the country is widely recognized for its centuries-old nomadic heritage.
According to the National Statistics Office, Mongolia had 58.1 million head of livestock at the end of 2025, up 0.8 percent from the previous year. ■
