Foot-and-mouth strain hits Iraq's buffalo herd, threatening livelihoods

The highly contagious livestock disease has plagued the country for decades

Iraqi farmer Saadoun Roumi, who has lost five of his 15 buffaloes to foot-and-mouth variant despite vaccinating his entire herd, stands at his farm in the village of Badush, northwest of the city of Mosul, on February 7, 2023. - The severe, highly contagious livestock disease has plagued Iraq for decades, but this year's outbreak has already had a devastating impact described as unprecedented by veterinarians in Nineveh province. This strain -- never before recorded in Iraq -- is resistant to the vaccines normally used in the country, leaving authorities scrambling to obtain the right doses to inoculate livestock and prevent further spread. (Photo by Zaid AL-OBEIDI / AFP)

The National

Feb 10, 2023

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Updated: February 10, 2023, 8:50 AM

Foot-and-mouth strain hits Iraq's buffalo herd, threatening livelihoods — in pictures

The highly contagious livestock disease has plagued the country for decades

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