HANOI, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam's northern provinces of Thai Nguyen and Quang Ninh have been stricken by foot-and-mouth disease, according to a local veterinary agency on Wednesday.

    The disease has hit Dai Tu district in Thai Nguyen since April 12, affecting six bulls and buffaloes, and 14 pigs, and the two districts of Ba Che and Tien Yen in Quang Ninh since April 5, affecting 27 bulls and buffaloes and 14 pigs, said the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

    The provincial Veterinary Bureaus have culled all infected cattle, and detoxicated affected farms.

    Now, the disease is hitting 12 communes in five provinces, namely, Thai Nguyen and Quang Ninh in the north, and Phu Yen, Gia Lai and Ha Tinh in the central region, said the department.

    Under a national agriculture development plan approved by the government in 2005, Vietnam will, by 2010, have 35-40 million pigs, 6.5-6.7 million bulls and cows and 2.8-3 million buffaloes.