April 10, 2006

Foot-and-mouth disease threatening Egyptian cattle

Thousands of cattle have been infected with the foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in eight Egyptian governorates, threatening an estimated 18 million livestock, according to Egypt's Veterinary Services Authority.

Veterinary specialists were concerned that there has been no treatment yet and issued a warning saying that FMD is a very serious threat as it is an air-borne disease that can be carried hundreds of kilometres away. Humans can also be infected from the meat and milk of animals with the disease.

The virus can live in contaminated fodder (dry hay and other forages) for up to one month, experts say.