BEIJING -- An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in cattle in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, the Ministry of Agriculture said on Monday.

Two pastures in Xigaze prefecture reported on July 31 that 20 head of cattle had shown symptoms of the disease. National laboratory test results released on Monday confirmed that the cattle were infected with type-A foot-and-mouth disease, the ministry said.

Local authorities have sealed off and sterilized the infected area, where 413 head of cattle have been culled and safely disposed of, according to the ministry.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a contagious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild species within the family Bovidae.