Saudis battle foot-and-mouth outbreak

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- More than 2,147 cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been detected in the Gulf state of Saudi Arabia.

Saudi's Agricultural Minister Abdullah bin Muammar said the cases were discovered in 46 infected sites in different parts of the kingdom.

Muammar said: "A total of 1,767 cows and 650 sheep besides calves, goats and other animals have been found infected with the disease. Up to 141 cows and 88 sheep have died of the disease so far."

Saudi Arabia, the largest cattle importer in the region and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), are the only Gulf states to have reported the disease.

Veterinary teams had been sent to a number of infected and suspected sites to ensure implementation of preventive measures and to educate farmers.

Weight loss

Muammar said his ministry had taken strict measures to disinfect cattle farms and that 170,000 animals, mostly dairy cows, were being vaccinated as part of a campaign to check the spread of the disease.

Foot-and-mouth disease is not harmful to humans but can cause severe weight loss in livestock.

Britain is experiencing a major outbreak of the virus, which has crippled the farming community and brought the tourism industry to its knees.

Cases of the virus have also been discovered in The Netherlands, Ireland and France.

Saudi farmers and importers of meat and livestock said on Tuesday that their losses over the last month, have amounted to more than 500 million Saudi Arabia riyals ($133.3 million).

The Gulf Arab states of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar import most of their meat and livestock. They have banned imports from Europe and most African and Arab states.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Saudi Arabia Government
Saudi Arabia

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