The ministry said the cold weather created favourable conditions for the disease to spread.

Statistics from the ministry's Department of Animal Health on January 12 showed that foot-and-mouth disease had hit the provinces of Son La, Thanh Hoa, Lao Cai and Ha Tinh.

Minister Cao Duc Phat has instructed authorities in the four provinces to work with local people to avert the spread of the disease.

"Local breeders should be shown how to stop the disease spreading through their animals," he said.

Phat also urged the localities to tighten inspections of animal shipments and slaughter houses, as well as spraying chemicals to sterilise affected areas.

The ministry previously supplied 5,000 litres of chemicals for Dak Nong Province to stamp out the disease in late December.