Amid a surge in cases across several neighboring countries, Lebanon’s Ministry of Agriculture warned of a high risk of foot-and-mouth disease spreading within its borders.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Ministry noted that “recent epidemiological developments in the region, particularly the emergence of new viral strains, significantly increase the risk of the disease entering Lebanon.”
Authorities pointed to “worrying indicators on the ground,” especially in border areas and shared grazing lands, where cross-border animal movement makes virus transmission more likely.
In response, the Ministry is urging all breeders, farmers and industry professionals to strengthen preventive measures immediately. Key recommendations include:
- Enhanced farm biosecurity: Strict control of animal movement in and out of farms, along with regular disinfection of facilities and equipment.
- No mixing of livestock: Especially between farms in border regions.
- Systematic vaccination: Cattle should receive two doses annually, while sheep should get one dose per year. Vaccines must be approved and registered with the Ministry, and are to be administered at the breeders’ expense.
“Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral illness that primarily affects ruminants. It can lead to severe economic losses due to decreased productivity and trade restrictions,” the statement read.
“Prevention is a shared responsibility,” the Ministry emphasized, calling for close cooperation between livestock owners and authorities to protect food security and animal health nationwide.
Note: Foot-and-mouth disease (also known as aphthous fever) is often confused with hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD), which affects humans. However, the two are entirely different: foot-and-mouth disease affects cattle, sheep, goats and pigs. Humans cannot contract the animal disease, and animals do not contract the human one.
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