China has reported a fresh outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, with 54 head of cattle affected in the nation's northwestern Qinghai province.

Farmers in Qinghai are facing a fresh outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, with 51 head of cattle affected in the northwestern province. [AFP]

Cattle at a farm in Qinghai's Haixi Mongolian region began showing symptoms of the illness last week and they were diagnosed with foot-and-mouth disease on Thursday, the agriculture ministry said on its website on Friday.

A total of 98 cattle were culled following the outbreak, while local agriculture officials quarantined and disinfected the farms and the surrounding area, it said.

There have been at least three other outbreaks in Qinghai this year of foot-and-mouth, a severe and highly contagious viral disease affecting cattle, pigs, sheep and other livestock.

It is not usually fatal but causes losses in the production of meat and milk.