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DUHOK, Kurdistan Region - A deadly animal disease has spread in Duhok province and killed dozens of cattle, local livestock owners told Rudaw on Friday.
Anthrax, a bacterial disease mostly seen in sheep and goats. It is threatening mammals in the Kurdistan Region's Duhok province.
Shvan Sabah, the owner of a livestock project, said he has lost at least two cows and calves a day over the past two months, with the dead animals showing no severe symptoms before dying.
"Without noticing any symptoms in them, we see our healthy cows die. In a day, four to six of them die. When they die, their mouths, their eyes, and backside bleed. Up to last night, 75 cows have died," Sabah told Rudaw. "The material damage is huge. We have some cows whose prices are estimated to be 3,000,000 dinars. Our calves are valued over and below 1,000,000 dinars; each calf is valued at 1,600,000 dinars. Their prices range from 700-800,000 dinars to 1,200-1300,000 dinars."
The sudden spread of the disease has put fear in the heart of local farmers and authorities, as they are worried that the disease may spread to other parts of the Region.
The head of the Zakho veterinary department visited the village of Shive, in Begova sub-district, where the first cases of the bacteria were detected.
There is no specific treatment for anthrax, but antibiotics could help limit the spread.
"The disease is anthrax. This is a bacterial disease, not a viral one. However, this is a dangerous bacterial disease," Hussein Ali, head of the Zakho Veterinary Department told Rudaw.
Livestock farmers in other parts of Duhok province are afraid that the bacteria will reach their areas and have called on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to support them in preventing the spread.
Anthrax, a bacterial disease mostly seen in sheep and goats. It is threatening mammals in the Kurdistan Region's Duhok province.
Shvan Sabah, the owner of a livestock project, said he has lost at least two cows and calves a day over the past two months, with the dead animals showing no severe symptoms before dying.
"Without noticing any symptoms in them, we see our healthy cows die. In a day, four to six of them die. When they die, their mouths, their eyes, and backside bleed. Up to last night, 75 cows have died," Sabah told Rudaw. "The material damage is huge. We have some cows whose prices are estimated to be 3,000,000 dinars. Our calves are valued over and below 1,000,000 dinars; each calf is valued at 1,600,000 dinars. Their prices range from 700-800,000 dinars to 1,200-1300,000 dinars."
The sudden spread of the disease has put fear in the heart of local farmers and authorities, as they are worried that the disease may spread to other parts of the Region.
The head of the Zakho veterinary department visited the village of Shive, in Begova sub-district, where the first cases of the bacteria were detected.
There is no specific treatment for anthrax, but antibiotics could help limit the spread.
"The disease is anthrax. This is a bacterial disease, not a viral one. However, this is a dangerous bacterial disease," Hussein Ali, head of the Zakho Veterinary Department told Rudaw.
Livestock farmers in other parts of Duhok province are afraid that the bacteria will reach their areas and have called on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) to support them in preventing the spread.
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