Cattle disease mycoplasma bovis has been found on a mixed sheep and beef farm in north Canterbury.
It is the first time the disease has been found in this region after it was first detected on a south Canterbury farm in July last year.
The farm was identified through animal movements from other infected farms.
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Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Mycoplasma bovis response incident controller Catherine Duthie says the discovery of new infected properties is not because the disease is spreading.
"All the infected farms we know about are in quarantine lockdown and no movements of risk goods, including animals, are allowed off them.
"Rather, the new finds are the result of our tracing uncovering historical movements of animals and then confirming the infection through testing. These movements, in many cases, took place before we even knew mycoplasma bovis was in the country."
There are currently are 36 infected properties across the country in Southland, Otago, Canterbury, Hawkes' Bay and Manawatu.
In March, MPI announced more than 22,000 cattle will be culled in a effort to control the spread of the disease.
Mycoplasma bovis does not infect humans and is not a food safety risk.
However it can cause mastitis, pneumonia, arthritis and late-term abortions in cattle.
Newshub.
