"We have put down the infected goats and their owners will be compensated fairly," Chaweewan Liawwijak, deputy director-general of the Livestock Development Department, said yesterday.

Moving goats, cattle and pigs in the town has also been banned under the decree.

She called on farmers to wash their hands after contact with goats to avoid contracting the contagious disease.

Four people have become infected. Most of them had worked on goat ranches.

She urged people to alert her department immediately if their livestock fell sick or died under unusual circumstances.

"Early detection of the disease will allow us to prevent its spread more efficiently," she said.