Reports from veterinary directorates across the country showed a slow in the spread of foot-and-mouth disease, which has taken a great toll on the country’s livestock in recent months. The new reports show a decrease from thousands to hundreds of new cases per day.
Soheir Abdel Qader, head of the Central Department for Therapeutic Medicine at the public authority for veterinary services, said a new vaccine for the SAT 2 strain of the virus has been produced.
The report also blamed the large number of animals infected on farmers and transporters not abiding by proper health procedures, such as not transferring animals across governorates and not quarantining sick animals, especially young calves from their mothers.
Veterinary authorities instructed that farmers keep animals inside during times of seasonal winds because the disease can stay airborne for dozens of kilometers.
Since the first infected animal was noticed on 26 February, an estimated 66,418 cases have followed. In total, about 12,857 animals died, most of which were calves. Young animals are significantly more susceptible to the disease.
Translated from MENA
