After the first case of foot-and-mouth disease was detected April 20 in Tsuno, Miyazaki Prefecture, the outbreak has spread quickly, making headlines in major papers and TV news programs and battering the prefecture's economy.
Amid the worst outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Japan's history, Miyazaki Gov. Hideo Higashikokubaru declared a state of emergency Tuesday, asking people living in the affected and surrounding areas to refrain from going out unless absolutely necessary.
Following are questions and answers related to the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Miyazaki Prefecture: