Vaccination programme under way in Turkey as FMD spreads
Turkey’s ministry of agriculture has said an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle is spreading across the country.
Its general directorate of veterinary services has halted the sale of live cattle at markets across Turkey and has banned farmers and traders from transporting live animals between provinces.
It has also begun a vaccination programme at farms across the whole country.
Officials have said they believe live cattle imported into Turkey in time for the Eid-al-Adha festival in early June and the movement of live animals to different parts of Turkey for the festival are possible sources of the disease.
During the festival, families that can afford it are encouraged to sacrifice a whole animal and to share the meat with family, friends and the poor.
