Iraq tightens border livestock checks
Shafaq News/ Iraq's Border Crossings Authority announced, on Tuesday, stricter veterinary controls to safeguard livestock and prevent the spread of animal diseases, particularly foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which officials say is now under control.
At the Trebil border crossing, authorities have intensified inspections in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture's Veterinary Department. Livestock exports are now subject to detailed health checks by joint committees from the ministry and veterinary quarantine teams.
To prevent disease transmission, veterinary teams at Trebil have begun inspecting sheep to ensure they are disease-free and safe for consumption. Meanwhile, the Authority reaffirmed its commitment to blocking the entry of expired, spoiled, or contaminated food and animal products.
These heightened measures follow recent FMD outbreaks in Baghdad and surrounding areas. On Sunday, the parliamentary agriculture committee confirmed that the disease had been contained, preventing further spread.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Shafaq News
a day ago
- Shafaq News
CCHF 2025: Iraq records 125 cases and 21 deaths
Shafaq News/ Iraq has reported a rise in cases and fatalities from Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) since the beginning of 2025, with 125 confirmed infections and 21 deaths across the country, according to the Ministry of Health and Shafaq News tracker. Ministry spokesperson Dr. Seif al-Badr stated that the infections have been geographically distributed across several provinces, with Dhi Qar leading the list at 36 cases and one fatality. Al-Badr reaffirmed the Ministry's readiness to diagnose and respond to suspected cases, noting that early detection and prompt medical care have led to the recovery of hundreds of patients in previous outbreaks. He emphasized that the majority of cases are concentrated among livestock breeders, animal traders, and butchers. He also called on security agencies to curb unregulated slaughter and grazing activities, as well as the illegal movement of livestock, warning that such practices significantly increase the risk of spreading infectious diseases, chief among them, hemorrhagic fever.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Shafaq News
CCHF: Iraq's Samarra district records 2025 1st case
Shafaq News/ Samarra district in central Iraq has confirmed its first case of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) for 2025, a source from the Saladin Health Directorate reported on Wednesday. The source told Shafaq News that the patient, 41-year-old Othman Thaj Madloul, tested positive after a June 10 sample was verified by the Central Public Health Laboratory in Baghdad using RT-PCR. Health teams quickly enforced isolation protocols, launched contact tracing, and initiated awareness campaigns in high-risk areas.
Shafaq News
2 days ago
- Shafaq News
CCHF: Iraq reports 109 cases; no new infections since June 7
Shafaq News/ The number of recorded cases of Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) in Iraq has reached 109 across the country since the beginning of 2025, with 18 fatalities, according to the Ministry of Health and Shafaq News tracker. Health officials told Shafaq News that no new infections have been recorded since June 7. The highly infectious viral disease, which is typically transmitted to humans through tick bites or contact with blood or tissues of infected animals—particularly during slaughter—has spread to multiple provinces, prompting health authorities to tighten monitoring and preventive measures, especially among livestock handlers and butchers. Dhi Qar remains the hardest-hit province with 31 confirmed cases and one death. Eastern Baghdad has recorded 11 cases and five deaths—the highest mortality rate so far. Wasit has reported 12 cases with one death, followed by Muthanna with eight cases and two fatalities, and Maysan with eight cases and no deaths. Cases have also been registered in at least 13 other provinces. The Ministry has implemented strict health protocols targeting high-risk sectors, particularly slaughterhouses and meat markets. "We have intensified surveillance in coordination with veterinary and municipal authorities, especially ahead of Eid al-Adha, when livestock handling and slaughtering activities increase," a ministry spokesperson told Shafaq News. The World Health Organization has previously warned that CCHF outbreaks in the region often peak during spring and summer due to heightened agricultural and animal movement activities. The Ministry urged citizens to take personal precautions, including avoiding unregulated slaughter and ensuring meat is sourced from authorized outlets.
