Urgent code text to province 81: All animal markets closed

The General Directorate of Food and Control of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry announced in a letter sent to the provincial directorates of agriculture and forestry in 81 provinces that animal markets throughout the country have been closed until further notice.

In the urgent coded letter sent by the General Directorate to the provincial directorates, it was stated that there was an intense circulation of animals throughout the country due to Eid al-Adha and an increase in the number of foot and mouth disease , one of the epidemic diseases, was observed.

In the statement, it was conveyed that quarantine measures were taken in the detected foot and mouth disease amounts, samples were collected from sick animals, animal movements were restricted, and training and field exercises were carried out to raise awareness, and the following was recorded:

"Genetic/antigenic changes were detected in studies conducted on foot-and-mouth disease causative viruses in samples taken from sick animals.

The production of protective vaccines against these newly emerging virus types has been completed and has been put into use in the field. However, it does not seem possible to vaccinate all cloven-hoofed animals of susceptible species in a short time.

It is known to the public that restricting animal movements in risky areas is a more effective method than vaccination.

In this context, since the intense movement of animals and visitors in animal sales points (animal markets, live animal exchanges, animal collection and sales centers, parks and fairs) will pose a high risk in the spread of the disease, I kindly request that all animal sales points operating throughout your province be closed immediately until further notice."