Shafaq News- Damascus
Syria on Sunday denied that foot-and-mouth disease (FMD)* hadspread inside the country, a day after Iraq halted the transit of Syrianlivestock over concerns about possible infections.
Speaking to Shafaq News, Mazen Alloush, director of Syria’sGeneral Authority for Land and Sea Ports, confirmed that all livestock exportsfrom Syria continue normally through Jordan and Syrian ports, noting that importingcountries have not raised any health concerns linked to Syrian shipments.
He also pointed to Damascus’ efforts to redirect regionaltransit routes away from Iraq, stating that “some parties benefit fromdisrupting Syrian trade flows with Gulf countries through Iraqi territory.”
Quarantine measures or trade restrictions, he said, shouldrely on confirmed veterinary findings and internationally recognized standards,rather than “unverified reports.”
Earlier this week, Iraq suspended the entry of live animalsfrom Syria and tightened veterinary inspections at border crossings followingreports of foot-and-mouth disease infections in Raqqa province.
*Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viralinfection affecting cattle, sheep, and goats, causing fever and blisters in themouth and on the feet. While the disease rarely affects humans, outbreaks posea major threat to young animals, with lamb mortality rates reaching up to 100%.
