China reported a fresh outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, with 213 head of cattle stricken in the nation's northwestern Gansu province.

The cattle began showing symptoms of the illness on June 14, in Gansu's Zhouqu county, the agriculture ministry reported on its website.

The entire herd of 380 cattle was culled following the outbreak, while local agriculture officials quarantined and disinfected the farm and the surrounding area, the ministry said.

On May 31, the ministry reported a separate outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Gansu's Jiaguguan prefecture, while another outbreak was reported in the province in March.

The latest outbreak brings to eight the number of foot-and-mouth epidemics to strike China this year, according to data published on the ministry's website.

Foot-and-mouth is a severe, highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle, pigs, sheep and other cloven-hoofed livestock. It is not usually fatal but causes losses in the production of meat and milk.