ULAN BATOR, June 23 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia on Monday received 1.65 million doses of vaccine against the SAT-1 strain of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) from China, according to the country's General Authority for Veterinary Services (GAVS).
The vaccines were procured and delivered as Mongolia steps up efforts to contain recent outbreaks of the highly contagious livestock disease, the GAVS said.
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 said.
The vaccines will be used to contain outbreaks of the SAT-1 strain in the western provinces of Bayan-Ulgii and Khovd, where cases were first confirmed in late May, it said.
As part of efforts to contain the disease, authorities in the two provinces have imposed a heightened state of preparedness for an indefinite period.
Meanwhile, cases involving the O serotype of the FMD virus have also been reported in several provinces of 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. ■