HANOI, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The number of Vietnamese localities stricken by foot-and-mouth disease has increased to 40, after the disease outbreaks have been detected in southern Binh Duong province, according to a local animal health agency on Tuesday.

    Last week, local veterinary agencies detected 34 infected bulls in 8 farms in the province's Thu Dau Mot town and 5 ill pigs in one farm in its Phu Giao district, said the Department of Animal Health under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

    As of Tuesday, 21 out of 40 affected localities have declared foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in their territories, the department said.

    Vietnam is intensifying control over cattle transport and trade in affected areas, and surveillance of the disease and vaccination of healthy animals.

    The disease has jumped to 462 communes in the 40 cities and provinces nationwide, hitting nearly 13,200 bulls and buffaloes, and about 2,100 pigs, the department said, noting that over 17,500 pigs and roughly 300 buffaloes and bulls have either died or been culled due to the outbreaks. Enditem