BEIJING, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has been confirmed in cattle in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, the Ministry of Agriculture announced on Tuesday.

On Aug. 5, one village in Qamdo Prefecture reported that 14 head of cattle showed symptoms of the disease. The national laboratory test results released on Tuesday confirmed that the cattle were infected with type-O foot-and-mouth disease, the ministry said.

Local authorities have sealed off and sterilized the infected area, where 57 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.