The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture announced on Thursday taking a temporary precautionary measure to suspend the transit movement of live animals coming from Syria and heading to Iraq and the GCC countries. This decision was taken because of the spread of foot-and-mouth disease in several Syrian provinces, the ministry added in a statement.
The ministry noted that the step came after receiving accurate information confirming the spread of foot-and-mouth disease affecting cattle and sheep in several Syrian areas. This necessitated halting their entry to protect the local livestock wealth and prevent the leakage or transmission of cross-border epidemic diseases, it pointed out.
Health and veterinary procedures are strictly applied to all countries without discrimination, based on official reports, epidemiological surveillance system and continued media monitoring of the health situation in neighboring countries, the statement elaborated. -Kuna
