CAMBODIAN authorities said about 10,000 cattle across 20 provinces, especially those along the Thai border, have been infected with Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
About one per cent of the sick cattle have also died from the disease, mostly calves, reports the Khmer Times.
General Department of Animal Health and Production director-general Tann Phannara said they were trying to get enough LSD vaccine to control the outbreak.
Cambodia had already ordered 300,000 doses of the LSD vaccine but the nation has about three million cattle.
Department of Animal Health and Public Health director Nou Vornika said the figures were based on initial reports and they were yet to update the number of LSD infected cattle.
She said the LSD caused cattle to be malnourished and weak, and if left untreated, develops into small lumps under the skin from small to large until it covers the cattle's body.
The lumps begin to form ulcers within 14 to 30 days and can remain on the cattle's skin for months.
Sporadic LSD outbreaks have been reported in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand over the past several months and if left unchecked, authorities fear it may affect agricultural work during the rainy season as farmers rely heavily on them.
She said the disease is believed to have spread from Thailand, especially in the border provinces.
The spread of the disease in Cambodia started in early June, first in Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces and then to other provinces along the Thai border.
In Thailand, there were outbreaks of LSD from March to July.
Tann had previously said that the Agriculture Ministry had ordered the vaccine, but was not sure when it would arrive in Cambodia.
LSD first broke out in 1929 in Zambia and spread throughout Africa, then to the Middle East, Europe, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, South Asia and China.