Infectious Diseases Centre presents comprehensive national FMD study

AMMAN — The National Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases Centre on Thursday presented the results of a comprehensive national study that evaluated Jordan's response to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) among livestock.

The study, carried out by an international team of experts from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Emergency Management Centre in Rome, in cooperation with the centre and the Ministry of Agriculture, took five days and analysed multiple governorates, according to the Jordan News Agency, Petra. 

The results emphasised the need to implement Jordan's integrated electronic surveillance system. It also underlined the importance of biosafety and biosecurity, which includes strict protocols such as quarantine measures, aimed at limiting the introduction and spread of diseases within the population.

Mohammed Al Hayari, secretary general of the Ministry of Agriculture, confirmed that a new strain of FMD has been discovered, resulting in a comprehensive set of measures, including the vaccination of more than 73,000 cattle in just two weeks.

The ministry has also temporarily banned the movement of livestock and cattle between governorates, Hayari said, emphasising the ministry’s commitment to ensuring a steady vaccine supply, while waiving the associated taxes on these vital items.