New outbreaks and veterinary precautions to contain infection
LIBYA – Mohamed Aqab, director of the National Centre for Animal Health, has announced new cases of foot-and-mouth disease after suspected outbreaks were detected in several areas, warning that the viral disease spreads quickly and is highly contagious among sheep and cattle.
Al-Talhiya report and Benghazi laboratory tests
In exclusive comments to Libya Al-Hadath TV, Aqab said that on 23 October the centre received a report of a suspected infection in a herd in the Al-Talhiya area. The herd was quarantined and samples were sent to the veterinary laboratory in Benghazi, where tests confirmed the disease.
Outbreaks in Al-Qawarsha, Ganfouda and Jabal Al-Akhdar
He said positive results were later recorded in Al-Qawarsha and Ganfouda, and two new outbreaks were detected in the coastal area of Jabal Al-Akhdar, at Qasr Libya and Mirath Masoud, adding that cattle had been more severely affected in some areas.
Risks of animal smuggling across African borders
Aqab warned that the smuggling of animals across African borders is one of the serious factors contributing to the renewed spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
