Outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Affects 1,400 Cattle on 10 Kuwait Farms
KUWAIT CITY, April 23: Following the detection of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) cases among cattle on several farms, the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources (PAAAFR) has assured both citizens and residents that consuming meat or milk from infected cows poses no risk to human health.
Salem Al-Hai, Director General of the Authority, emphasized that PAAAFR is fully committed to containing the spread of the disease. 'The Authority is working tirelessly, mobilizing all available resources and medical teams to respond swiftly to the outbreak,' he said. He added that efforts are underway to expedite the importation of the necessary vaccines, which are expected to arrive by early May. Al-Hai explained that, according to scientific research and medical reports, FMD does not affect the health of those who consume meat or dairy products from infected animals. 'There is no cause for concern. Meat and dairy from affected animals are safe for consumption,' he affirmed.
He clarified that FMD is an economic disease primarily impacting livestock productivity, particularly by reducing milk output. The infection typically affects the mouth and hooves of animals and is most common in cattle, though it can also impact sheep and goats to a lesser extent.
During an awareness seminar hosted by the Authority, Dr. Khaled Al-Fayez confirmed that the outbreak is currently under control. He revealed that the first case was identified on April 7 at a farm in Sulaibiya. Since then, the infection has spread to 10 out of 44 farms, with approximately 1,400 cows infected out of a total cattle population of 23,000 in Kuwait.
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