The livestock markets in the West Bank will be closed for one month, starting today, due to the spread of the foot-and-mouth disease, today said Minister of Agriculture Riyad Atari.
He told WAFA that the disease started in Israel and quickly spread across the borders to Palestine and Jordan, stressing that closing the markets is a preventive measure, and explaining that this is not the first time this happens.
“We came up with 400,000 vaccines during the past month and we have vaccinated about 70% of sheep and goats and 95% of cows,” he said. “We are continuing with the vaccination despite the shortage of vaccines due to a global crisis in more than one country.”
Atari said his ministry, particularly the Department of Veterinary Services, recommended closing the livestock markets to prevent the mixing of animals in the markets and thus the transmission of the infection, indicating that this procedure is temporary and was done in agreement with the Ministry of Local Government so that the municipalities will play a role in not allowing the livestock markets to operate in order to reduce mixing of the livestock to prevent their infection and death.
The Minister of Agriculture stressed that the situation is under control and work is underway to control the losses caused by this disease, which are expected to be minimal. He said this measure will continue for one month depending on the epidemiological situation.
He explained that the disease is not transmitted to humans and there is no danger in eating infected sheep products, expecting that its spread will decrease in light of the ministry’s measures to contain the spread of the disease, which started in Tubas in the northern Jordan Valley and quickly spread through the wild boars that are found in that area.
Atari said that 10,000 jabs were sent to the Gaza Strip to protect the livestock there.
“We have a special protocol for imported livestock in which we quarantine them for a specific period in agreement with the importers,” he said, expecting that the disease will begin to fade away in the middle of next month.
Foot and mouth disease is an acute viral disease that affects cattle, pigs, goats, sheep and other animals such as elephants and mice. It does not transmit easily to humans.
Source: Palestinian News & Info Agency (WAFA)