FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE – SYRIA: (IDLIB) CATTLE, SHEEP, SPREAD, REQUEST FOR INFORMATION / مرض الحمى القلاعية – سوريا (ادليب) : أبقار،أغنام، انتشار، طلب الحصول على معلومة
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International Society for Infectious Diseases
http://www.isid.orgDate: Thu 10 Apr 2025
Source: Hashtag Syria [in Arabic, trans. Mod.SF, abridged, edited] https://tinyurl.com/4p6edc9tThe head of the Veterinary Syndicate in Idlib province, Othman Anan, stated that livestock in Idlib is suffering from foot-and-mouth disease, which has affected sheep and cattle and led to the death of several animals. He added that the 30 000 doses [of vaccine] sent by the Ministry of Agriculture to the province are insufficient.
Meanwhile, the Director of Animal Health and Production at the Ministry of Agriculture, Abdelhay Youssef, said that the ministry has a comprehensive plan to vaccinate the herd against infectious and widespread diseases in the country, and that it will cover the entire livestock population. However, he noted that so far, no recorded cases have reached the level to be classified as an epidemic.
In detail, the head of the Veterinary Syndicate in Idlib, Othman Anan, told Hashtag that mortality among cattle due to foot-and-mouth disease was lower than among sheep, with a particularly high death rate among young lambs — reaching up to 10% of the flock. He explained that a newborn lamb dies within 10 hours of nursing from its mother infected with the disease.
Anan pointed out that after contacting the Ministry of Agriculture, a quantity of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine doses was sent; however, it was not sufficient to cover the entire province. He explained that the actual need is estimated at 350 000 vaccine doses for the sheep population, in addition to 50 000 doses for the cattle, while only 30 000 doses were delivered.
On his part, the Director of Animal Health and Production at the Ministry of Agriculture, Abdelhay Youssef, explained in his interview with “Hashtag” that the ministry has a comprehensive plan to vaccinate the livestock against infectious and widespread diseases in the country, and it will cover the entire herd.
He pointed out that foot-and-mouth disease is considered a strategic disease that poses a clear threat to the local livestock and is a priority for the Ministry of Agriculture in terms of controlling it.
[Byline: Noura Kacem]