ULAN BATOR, May 4 (Xinhua) -- An outbreak of sheep pox has been reported by local media in the eastern Mongolian province of Dornod on Thursday, citing the provincial veterinary department.
The outbreak of the highly contagious disease of sheep caused by a poxvirus has been reported in four soums (administrative subdivisions) of the province, namely Dashbalbar, Bulgan, Tsagaan-Ovoo and Chuluunkhoroot, the veterinary department said.
The department urged local herders to be vigilant, monitor their herds and report any suspicious cases to the relevant authorities as soon as possible due to the disease's rapid spread and high mortality rate.
According to its National Statistics Office, Mongolia had 71.1 million livestock animals at the end of 2022 and remains one of the last nomadic countries in the world. Sheep accounted for 46.0 percent of all livestock, it said. ■