Agriculture minister assures public as foot-and-mouth disease rattles livestock sector

BAGHDAD – Iraq’s Agriculture Minister Abbas Jabr reassured the public Wednesday that foot-and-mouth disease does not spread to humans through meat or dairy products. Speaking at a press conference in Baghdad, Jabr said vaccines and medications are available for free and dismissed claims of human infection as baseless rumors.

Jabr criticized what he described as a misinformation campaign that is harming livestock farmers and restaurant owners. He noted that social media rumors warning against the consumption of meat and dairy are generating unnecessary fear.

“We are losing a large number of cattle and buffalo, which is a great loss to the livestock sector. Over the years, we have spent billions of dinars to support animal husbandry through feed, medicine, and vaccines, which is the ministry’s duty,” Jabr said.

He emphasized that disease outbreaks are ‘common’, noting that foot-and-mouth disease has been present for more than 90 years and occurs annually around the world.

Foot-and-mouth disease is a severe, highly contagious viral illness that primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and pigs. Jabr reported that Iraq has recorded 3,000 FMD cases so far, with 654 deaths, primarily among unvaccinated calves.

While the ministry provides support through free vaccines, medications, and feed, Jabr explained that there is no law mandating financial compensation for affected farmers. “We assure citizens that this disease does not transfer to humans in any form,” he said.

Human transmission is extremely rare, especially everyday exposure.

Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani ordered the formation of an investigative committee yesterday to examine reported cases of the disease. The committee, which includes experts in veterinary medicine and livestock, has begun field visits to monitor animal fatalities and collect samples for testing.