The second national campaign in 2024 to vaccinate against foot and mouth disease and Rift Valley fever was launched on Saturday nationwide. The campaign includes vaccinating cows, buffalo, sheep, and goats against the diseases, the Ministry of Agriculture reported.
According to Chairman of the General Authority for Veterinary Services (GAVS) Mumtaz Shahin, the campaign comes within the framework of the state’s endeavour to preserve livestock, provide healthy and safe food for the Egyptian citizen and achieve food security. Shahin added that the second campaign, which began on 13 July, is a national initiative organised by GAVS to vaccinate against epidemic diseases that threaten livestock and affect their productivity. All necessary vaccines and veterinary equipment are being provided.
Shahin said that during the campaign, breeders will be introduced to the importance of numbering and registering livestock and will be given a registration card for each animal indicating the diseases they have been exposed to and the vaccinations they have received. It also aims at raising awareness among breeders about the importance of covering their livestock through the Livestock Insurance Fund.
Head of the Central Administration for Preventive Medicine Naglaa Radwan said in the first phase of the campaign the ministry vaccinated 3.5 million heads of cattle. Vaccinations are a preventive action to enhance the immunity system of the animals, Radwan noted.
“So far there are no outbreaks, just a few isolated cases that occur every once in a while in various governorates,” Radwan said.
Still, she said, as soon as they are told about a case, they start procedures to contain the disease by isolating the infected animals and taking samples from them. They also vaccinate the rest of the animals within a half radius of 10 km.
Moreover, the ministry draws up an epidemic map that is then sent to the veterinary service directorate or governor’s office where the farm is registered so that the epicentre remains under control.
* A version of this article appears in print in the 18 July, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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