LILONGWE, Jan. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Malawi government has announced a ban on importing and transporting all cloven hooved animals and all meat products from South Africa due to an outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

According to a statement signed by Secretary for Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development Gray Nyandule Phiri and released Friday, the government has also banned importing and transporting the same from other countries known to have been affected by the disease.

All the country's boarders have been keeping off the banned animals or their meat products since the ban took effect on Jan. 24.

The statement said the measures are in line with the country's Control and Animal Diseases Act and the World Animal Health Organisation guidelines.

"The Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development is in regular consultation with veterinary authorities within the region and shall continue to update the public and specific stakeholders on any changes in the status from time to time," the statement said.

Malawi had banned meat products from South Africa in March 2018 in the wake of listeria infection that was associated with meat from one of the suppliers there.

FMD is spread through many ways including introducing infected herd into uninfected ones, via contaminated pens, buildings or transport facilities, contaminated clothing, footwear or equipment, virus infected meat or other contaminated animal products.