Latest news with #HealthandAgricultureCommittee
Shafaq News
22-04-2025
- Health
- Shafaq News
Nineveh declares FMD controlled, No new CCHF cases
Shafaq News/ Veterinary authorities in Iraq's Nineveh province have fully contained a recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) among cattle and buffalo, while no new cases of Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) have been reported in the area. Omar Al-Hayali, director of the Nineveh Veterinary Hospital, told Shafaq News that the FMD outbreak, which had spread over the past two months in Mosul and surrounding areas, is now under control. 'There are still a few small hotspots under close monitoring and treatment by specialized veterinary teams,' he said. Al-Hayali confirmed that no new cases of CCHF have been recorded in the province. 'We've had just one confirmed case since the beginning of the year, detected last month,' he added. Al-Hayali urged citizens, especially butchers, to adhere to public health protocols, emphasizing the importance of conducting all animal slaughter within licensed abattoirs under veterinary supervision to ensure animal health and prevent disease transmission. Meanwhile, Nineveh's Health and Agriculture Committee issued recommendations to the local government to prevent further disease outbreaks. The proposals include temporarily banning livestock imports into the province until a clear veterinary assessment is issued, enforcing Iraq's animal health laws, and requesting additional vaccines, medications, mobile teams, and logistical support from the Ministry of Agriculture. On Sunday, Iraq's Ministry of Health announced five new confirmed cases of CCHF across the country, bringing the total to 19 since the beginning of 2025.
Shafaq News
21-03-2025
- Health
- Shafaq News
Iraqi official criticized for urging slaughter of FMD-infected livestock
Shafaq News/ On Friday, veterinary professionals, local activists, and social media users in Iraq sharply criticized a member of the Nineveh Provincial Council after he called on farmers to slaughter livestock infected with foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). A video circulating online shows Mohammed Arif Al-Shabaki urging owners of infected animals to bring them to slaughterhouses, prompting accusations of encouraging violations of veterinary health protocols. Bloggers described the remarks as 'clear incitement,' while experts warned the call could 'exacerbate the outbreak and weaken containment efforts.' The backlash comes as Nineveh grapples with a growing outbreak of FMD, which has killed hundreds of animals and led authorities to impose a week-long quarantine on 22 cattle farms, primarily in the Kokjali area east of Mosul. The crisis has also fueled public anger over alleged corruption in livestock import procedures. Council member Muadh Haji told Shafaq News that 'corruption and bribery were the main causes behind the spread of the disease,' pointing to smuggling through several checkpoints, including the Shaheed Subhan crossing at the Mosul–Erbil entrance. In response to the outbreak, the province's Health and Agriculture Committee issued a series of recommendations, including a ban on livestock entry until veterinary authorities release a clear epidemiological assessment. The committee also called for stricter enforcement of animal health laws and additional support for the veterinary hospital—covering vaccines, medicines, mobile teams, and staffing. Other recommendations included official supervision of refrigerated meat transport, compensation for affected farmers, and land allocation for temporary slaughterhouses under the oversight of local authorities.
