Iraq suspends livestock transit from Syria over foot-and-mouth outbreak

BAGHDAD — Iraq’s Agriculture Ministry announced Friday a temporary suspension of livestock transit from Syria toward Iraq and Gulf countries following reports of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks in several Syrian governorates.

The ministry said the decision followed “accurate information confirming the spread of foot-and-mouth disease affecting cattle and sheep” in Syria, describing the measure as aimed at protecting local livestock and preventing the cross-border transmission of epidemic diseases. Health and veterinary procedures were being implemented “strictly and without discrimination toward all countries,” it said.

Iraq faced a major foot-and-mouth outbreak earlier this year. In February 2025, 654 buffalo and cattle died while more than 3,000 infections were recorded across the country, with the highest concentration in Baghdad. Most cases involved unvaccinated and newborn animals, prompting movement restrictions and the closure of animal gathering areas in several governorates. Veterinary teams carried out vaccination and containment efforts, while officials stressed that foot-and-mouth disease does not spread to humans through meat or dairy products. Separate outbreaks later affected parts of Duhok governorate, where local veterinarians linked recurring infections to low vaccination rates among herders.