WAR 05/02 EXTRA! EXTRA! Foot and Mouth Disease in the Middle East

[The Flying Dutchman]

=

*New Bug!?!*

New foot and mouth strain
spreads to Gaza Strip

Gaza: 13 minutes ago
http://www.tradearabia.com/news/AGRI_216934.html​

A new strain of foot and mouth disease (FMD) has reached the Gaza Strip and threatens to spread further after first being detected in Egypt and Libya in February, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said on Wednesday.

FAO said sick animals had been detected on April 19 in Rafah, a town that lies on the border between the coastal Palestinian territory and Egypt.

FMD is a highly infectious and sometimes fatal disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as sheep, goats, cattle, buffalo and pigs. It is not a direct threat to humans.

An official in Gaza's ministry of agriculture said farmers had received 20,000 doses of vaccine to fight the disease and played down the seriousness of the outbreak.

"The problem surfaced at one farm in Rafah and we isolated the farm and stopped the movement of animals across Gaza," Adel Attalah told Reuters. "We received the 20,000 vaccines a week ago and ... I can say that most of the animals were given the vaccine," he said, adding that his ministry had now lifted restrictions on the movement of animals. "The situation is not worrying," he said.

Meat and milk from sick animals are unsafe for consumption, not because FMD affects humans, but because foodstuffs entering the food chain should only come from animals that are known to be healthy, FAO said.

Movements of animals from the Nile Delta eastward through the Sinai Peninsula and north into the Gaza strip have been deemed the highest risk for the spread of the disease into the wider Middle East region, the Rome-based agency said.

"If FMD SAT2 reaches deeper into the Middle East it could spread throughout vast areas, threatening the Gulf countries - even southern and eastern Europe, and perhaps beyond," said Juan Lubroth, FAO's chief veterinary officer.

The FMD virus is transmitted via the saliva of sick animals, and spreads easily via contaminated hay, stalls, trucks and clothing, FAO said.

The Rome-based agency said 40,000 vaccine doses will soon be available for sheep and goats in Gaza and was negotiating with vaccine producers in case the disease spreads further. - Reuters






=

 

[The Flying Dutchman]

=

Ladies and gentlemen; With the addition of ANTHRAX to the "Middle East turmoil" we have a...

WHOLE NEW BALL GAME NOW!​

​

Foot-and-mouth disease spreads to Gaza Strip

Updated 1h 8m ago
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-05-02/foot-mouth-disease-Gaza/54686996/1​

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – A U.N. agency says Egypt's outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has reached neighboring Gaza Strip and could soon spread across the Middle East.

The Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization said Wednesday the disease was detected in Gaza's southern border town of Rafah on April 19.

Juan Lubroth, FAO's chief veterinary officer, says vaccines are in short supply and animal movement must be limited. He says the disease risks spreading to the Gulf, southern and eastern Europe and further.

The disease is not a direct threat to humans, but meat and milk from sick animals are unsafe for consumption.

Zakaria Kafarna of Gaza's Agriculture Ministry says the situation is under control. He says livestock imports from Egypt have stopped, and officials are vaccinating thousands of animals.





=

 

[BertaBurtonLake]

Foot and mouth disease and anthrax are two different things, the former being a viral illness and the latter a bacterial one.

 

[Jake Grey]

I initially thought the headline said, "Foot in mouth disease." Thought we had dropped ole' Joe Biden somewhere in the Middle East (our secret weapon).

 

[bbbuddy]

"Foot and Mouth Disease is that cute little baby dog
playing with a ball of string in the front window of the mega mall puppy
mill store.

Anthrax is Stephen King's CUJO with an acute case of manic
depression."

http://www.notmilk.com/anthrax.html

 

[Haybails]

=

Ladies and gentlemen; With the addition of ANTHRAX to the "Middle East turmoil" we have a...

WHOLE NEW BALL GAME NOW!​

​

Foot-and-mouth disease spreads to Gaza Strip

Updated 1h 8m ago
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/story/2012-05-02/foot-mouth-disease-Gaza/54686996/1​

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) – A U.N. agency says Egypt's outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease has reached neighboring Gaza Strip and could soon spread across the Middle East.

The Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization said Wednesday the disease was detected in Gaza's southern border town of Rafah on April 19.

Juan Lubroth, FAO's chief veterinary officer, says vaccines are in short supply and animal movement must be limited. He says the disease risks spreading to the Gulf, southern and eastern Europe and further.

The disease is not a direct threat to humans, but meat and milk from sick animals are unsafe for consumption.

Zakaria Kafarna of Gaza's Agriculture Ministry says the situation is under control. He says livestock imports from Egypt have stopped, and officials are vaccinating thousands of animals.





=

I'm confussed. I don't see the word "Anthrax" used anywhere but in your thread title and your comments before the included article. I'll admit up front, I'm not a biologist - or in any way schooled into the details of "Anthrax" or "Foot in mouth" . . . but, the thread title seems miss-leading (I'm not attacking you, just trying to understand).

Any way to clean this thread up?


HB

 

[Exodia]

Foot and mouth disease and anthrax are two different things, the former being a viral illness and the latter a bacterial one.

Correct.

 

[The Flying Dutchman]

=


Actually, I believed that the name was interchangeable and described a disease catagory. But, never fear I won't be "doing any more EXTRAS from this time forth.... Not worth the wear and tear on a chicken's behind.. As the old China man once said.

 

[LittleJohn]

=


Actually, I believed that the name was interchangeable and described a disease catagory. But, never fear I won't be "doing any more EXTRAS from this time forth.... Not worth the wear and tear on a chicken's behind.. As the old China man once said.

Really? Really, Dutch?!?

Let me say that I appreciate your relentless posting of news, and personally enjoy the education they bring.

But, someone gently questioned a very inaccurate mistake you made in a title, and you get all butt hurt.

It's like some kid saying they will just take their ball and go home if things don't go their way.

Please take the following as something spoken from someone who likes you a lot...

But, you need to man up and grow some thicker skin.


LittleJohn

 

[Dex]

Yes, we appreciated the alert, as always but it was a blatant inaccuracy because Hoof and Mouth disease is not a danger to humans and an entirely different type of infection than Anthrax. Anthrax can live in the dirt indefinitely and is a danger to all living mammals.

Nobody said stop doing your alerts they just requested accuracy is all, especially about a subject such as this, not a huge thing to ask, no need to be hurt.

 

[The Flying Dutchman]

Really? Really, Dutch?!?

Let me say that I appreciate your relentless posting of news, and personally enjoy the education they bring.

But, someone gently questioned a very inaccurate mistake you made in a title, and you get all butt hurt.

It's like some kid saying they will just take their ball and go home if things don't go their way.

Please take the following as something spoken from someone who likes you a lot...

But, you need to man up and grow some thicker skin.


LittleJohn

LJ;

Your 'sage-like' advice is duly noted. However, I am nearing the last days of me posting the news on the internet. (And I did not need multiple posts correcting my 'Ignorance" to the differece of Hoof - foot etc.)

All I have gotten is critisium(sp) of the thread title (by every poster, so far) - no comment on the sudden apparance of this disease, and the"meger effects" it will have on the food supply of those M.E. nations (starvation is one of the 'drivers' of war).

Anyway, I feeling more than a bit 'under the weather' today. Ill enough, that I am asking myself "Is it worth it"

The Flying Dutchman

 

[The Flying Dutchman]

Yes, we appreciated the alert, as always but it was a blatant inaccuracy because Hoof and Mouth disease is not a danger to humans and an entirely different type of infection than Anthrax. Anthrax can live in the dirt indefinitely and is a danger to all living mammals.

Nobody said stop doing your alerts they just requested accuracy is all, especially about a subject such as this, not a huge thing to ask, no need to be hurt.

Dex;

Though I can still 'get into the post to modify the article - I do not know how ; perhaps a staff memberwill be kind enough to substitue the title of the thread from "ANTHRAX" to "foot and mouth"..

That's all I can do to remedy my mistake, is ask for help...

TFD

 

[WildDaisy]

=


Actually, I believed that the name was interchangeable and described a disease catagory. But, never fear I won't be "doing any more EXTRAS from this time forth.... Not worth the wear and tear on a chicken's behind.. As the old China man once said.

Wow, someone nicely corrected a mistake and you now refuse to post? We all make mistakes. The trick is to say thank you for finding it, make the correction and move on.

 

[cleobc]

Actually, foot and mouth (formerly called hoof and mouth here in the U.S.) is a serious disease that spreads easily and devastates milk and meat producers. Nothing cute about it. Thanks for posting about it. Let's hope it doesn't spread far.

 

[bbbuddy]

Actually, foot and mouth (formerly called hoof and mouth here in the U.S.) is a serious disease that spreads easily and devastates milk and meat producers. Nothing cute about it. Thanks for posting about it. Let's hope it doesn't spread far.

Cute puppy versus Cujo = ANALOGY

 

[Straycat]

=Actually, I believed that the name was interchangeable and described a disease catagory. But, never fear I won't be "doing any more EXTRAS from this time forth.... Not worth the wear and tear on a chicken's behind.. As the old China man once said.

Okeydoke.

 

[LittleJohn]

LJ;

Your 'sage-like' advice is duly noted. However, I am nearing the last days of me posting the news on the internet. (And I did not need multiple posts correcting my 'Ignorance" to the differece of Hoof - foot etc.)

All I have gotten is critisium(sp) of the thread title (by every poster, so far) - no comment on the sudden apparance of this disease, and the"meger effects" it will have on the food supply of those M.E. nations (starvation is one of the 'drivers' of war).

Anyway, I feeling more than a bit 'under the weather' today. Ill enough, that I am asking myself "Is it worth it"

The Flying Dutchman

Pointing out an honest mistake does not actually constitute criticism.

A simple, "Oops. You're right. I thought both terms could be used interchangeably. BUT, I still think this is very serious for a couple of reasons: the "sudden apparance of this disease, and the"meger effects" it will have on the food supply of those M.E. nations (starvation is one of the 'drivers' of war). What do you think of those issues?"

People who read your threads have CONSISTENTLY stated they appreciate your hard work bringing news that they don't get on MSM, and would easily give grace for your honest faux pas.

More "sage advice" FWIW.


LittleJohn

 

[Be Well]

=


Actually, I believed that the name was interchangeable and described a disease catagory. But, never fear I won't be "doing any more EXTRAS from this time forth.... Not worth the wear and tear on a chicken's behind.. As the old China man once said.

Extras are good, Dutch, just an honest mistake and we all make them. The really bad "mistakes" are the DIS honest ones, and you don't make that kind!!!

I can't even remember how many times I've wanted a "red faced" emoticon to use...

 

[Hansa44]

LJ;

Your 'sage-like' advice is duly noted. However, I am nearing the last days of me posting the news on the internet. (And I did not need multiple posts correcting my 'Ignorance" to the differece of Hoof - foot etc.)

All I have gotten is critisium(sp) of the thread title (by every poster, so far) - no comment on the sudden apparance of this disease, and the"meger effects" it will have on the food supply of those M.E. nations (starvation is one of the 'drivers' of war).

Anyway, I feeling more than a bit 'under the weather' today. Ill enough, that I am asking myself "Is it worth it"

The Flying Dutchman

There's a lot of us feeling that way these days.

 

[energy_wave]

Isn't this a WWI tactic? Destroy the cavalry with H&M? It's their food supply and means of travel. I wonder what is going to happen with everyone in lock down. They can't issue martial law, but this might be the next best thing.

 

[DustMusher]

Dutch

Good catch, and as far as putting the wrong name of the disease -- chit happens. I have studied immunology and public health issuse and have paid particular attention to zoonotic diseases and I have mis-named a disease at times. That does not in the least take anything away from the importance of this post and THANK YOU for posting this.

This is a very dangerous disease to livestock - any ruminant animal with a cloven hoof can contract it and the traditional treatment for the disease is to destroy ALL exposed livestock and strictly quarantine the land those animals have been on. The bodies of the killed animals must either be buried in such a manner that no carrion eaters have access to the bodies, or burned.

The virus can be transmitted as a contact contagion either by an animal actually being in close contact to an infected animal, but the virus can be spread by humans via their clothing, shoes or skin. The virus can also be spread via autos and other farm equipment. All people entering a contaminated area need to wear full personal protective coverings, remove them in a decontamination zone, and then disinfect themselves. All vehicle traffic must be totally decontaminated prior to leaving a quarantine area. FMD can and does decimate any ruminant heard exposed - either through contracting the disease or through the decontamination and quarantine procedures. The majority of the protein sources in the middle east are at risk - sheep, goats, cattle, and camels which could lead to major food shortages. This is a virus which continually mutates and no effective vaccine has been developed. There is a slight risk to human infection, but this is not considered a zooinotic disease.

Actually it would be better, from a public health view point, if Anthrax had been the infective pathogen discovered in the herd. Anthrax is not that contagious to other animals and can be treated in both the cutanious (skin) infection or the more rare pulmonary form with easily available antibiotics. FMD can only be contained by quarantine and destruction of the animals.

This is not the last of the infection in the area, imho, because of the east of spreading the virus by both humans and equipment. Dollars to donuts that at least the first vet on the property who was to treat the sick animals did NOT effectively decontaminate prior to leaving the premises and the owners have spread the virus if they have left the farm any time between the appearance of the virus on their farm and now. Expect to hear more of this outbreak in the near future. For background read up on the FMD outbreak in England in 1967 442,000 animals were slaughtered to contain the disease; in 2001 about 2,000 cases were confirmed and about 7 MILLION head of livestock destroyed.

For more information of FMD, this link to USDA/APHIS fact sheet. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publicati...printable_version/fs_foot_mouth_disease07.pdf


DM

 

[DustMusher]

Cute puppy versus Cujo = ANALOGY

As far as the economic and public health issues - your analogy is backwards. Read my response to Dutch.

DM

 

[Exodia]

SSDD. You are predictable, I'll give you that.

 

[Hfcomms]

But, someone gently questioned a very inaccurate mistake you made in a title, and you get all butt hurt.

It's like some kid saying they will just take their ball and go home if things don't go their way.

If I had a dollar for every time the OP threatened to leave I'd be able to afford a great steak dinner with all the trimmings at even today's inflated prices.

 

[The Flying Dutchman]

If I had a dollar for every time the OP threatened to leave I'd be able to afford a great steak dinner with all the trimmings at even today's inflated prices.

If you will please "enlarge upon your "OP" if it doesn't stand for "Other Person".

Dust Musher;

FWIW My Uncle back it the late fiftys; had his herd of cattle dianosed as having 'Hoof and Mouth" disease. Uncle Charlie was ruined, his ranch land was barred from all animals for a whole lot of years. Uncle Charlie never recovered from from the, to him, disaster....


TFD


=

 

[summerthyme]

Dust Musher is correct. In some ways, this is a whole lot WORSE than anthrax, in terms of potential issues. There are effective vaccines for anthrax in livestock, and it's treatable with antibiotics in humans.

Foot and Mouth generally doesn't affect humans directly, but is a terrible disease in livestock, and this will effectively stop ANY exports from the countries where it has shown up. I don't know off hand if those countries have been foot-and-mouth "free"- if they have, then this is potentially a terrorist attack.

Between this news, and Israel calling up several reserve units, it looks like things are heating up fast over there. Time to up the personal alert levels, I'm afraid.

Summerthyme

 

[Be Well]

If you will please "enlarge upon your "OP" if it doesn't stand for "Other Person".

Dust Musher;

FWIW My Uncle back it the late fiftys; had his herd of cattle dianosed as having 'Hoof and Mouth" disease. Uncle Charlie was ruined, his ranch land was barred from all animals for a whole lot of years. Uncle Charlie never recovered from from the, to him, disaster....


TFD


=

A few years ago in the UK there was some foot and mouth disease and I can't remember how many HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of poor animals were slaughtered. It was beyond tragic. What Summerthyme says is spot on.

ETA - or maybe it was MILLIONS. Horrible. I could hardly read about it.

 

[night driver]

Dutch.


IF you can still edit the post, click on "Go Advanced" and you can then edit the title.

 

[H2O]

Couple of things. 1st, thanks TFD for the article. yes the title was "off", but that's an honest and fixable item. 2nd - what will this do the groups like the bedouins, if it gets into the Arabian Peninsula, in addition to the many semi-nomatic groups in that general region. Alot of their personal wealth are their animals. There could be alot of economic and social reprecusions from this little disease.

 

[DustMusher]

A few years ago in the UK there was some foot and mouth disease and I can't remember how many HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of poor animals were slaughtered. It was beyond tragic. What Summerthyme says is spot on.

ETA - or maybe it was MILLIONS. Horrible. I could hardly read about it.

in 2001 about 2,000 cases were confirmed and about 7 MILLION head of livestock destroyed.

from my first post.

The economic impact may create a tipping point.

DM

 

[Marthanoir]

A few years ago in the UK there was some foot and mouth disease and I can't remember how many HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of poor animals were slaughtered. It was beyond tragic. What Summerthyme says is spot on.

ETA - or maybe it was MILLIONS. Horrible. I could hardly read about it.

yeah it was, JCB's dumping piles of animal corpse's onto bonfires, every road juction and driveway had carpet tacked to it covered in bleach to disinfect your tyres, everybody here went into overdrive to keep us infection free, we're a farming area,

Also don't forget the recent outbreak of that new German livestock disease in the UK, all lambs were stillborn, Schmallenberg virus http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schmallenberg_virus

New virus a danger to lambs and cattle

Farmers in Ireland have been urged to be vigilant about a new disease known as the Schmallenberg virus, which is fatal to lambs and can also affect cattle.

The virus arrived in Britain from the continent, but there have been no cases in Ireland.

The main lambing season has just started in Ireland and 3m lambs are expected to be born over the next two months.

However, farmers are now facing a major concern from the threat of the Schmallenberg virus.

It causes lambs to be born dead or with serious deformities which result in death.

The virus produces fever, diarrhoea and loss of milk production in adult cattle, though the animals recover after a few days.

Over 70 farms in England and 1,000 farms in Europe have reported cases since the first signs of the virus were witnessed in the German town of Schmallenberg last summer.

It is thought the virus is spread by midges.

Irish Farmers' Association leader John Bryan called for bio-security to be stepped up a ports and airports.

The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association has urged farmers to report anything unusual to their vet and to be careful about importing livestock.

ICSA President Gabriel Gilmartin said that farmers need to think "long and hard" about importing any livestock at this time until a fuller picture emerges on the newly discovered virus.

http://www.rte.ie/news/2012/0227/schmallenberg.html

 

[marsh]

As I recall, the problem with "hoof and mouth" is that the animal loses weight and fails to thrive. It is devastating to the industry. This is the disease where they dug hug pits and drove cattle in them, shot them and then burned them in the early twentieth century. I believe England had an outbreak about a decade ago.

 

[Ben Sunday]

LJ;

Your 'sage-like' advice is duly noted. However, I am nearing the last days of me posting the news on the internet. (And I did not need multiple posts correcting my 'Ignorance" to the differece of Hoof - foot etc.)

All I have gotten is critisium(sp) of the thread title (by every poster, so far) - no comment on the sudden apparance of this disease, and the"meger effects" it will have on the food supply of those M.E. nations (starvation is one of the 'drivers' of war).

Anyway, I feeling more than a bit 'under the weather' today. Ill enough, that I am asking myself "Is it worth it"

The Flying Dutchman

C'mon Dutch. You know better than this.

Helluva difference between an honest, innocent mistake versus somebody flaming your butt because of opinions on substantive issues.

Take it for what it is and carry on with the excellent work you do.

Ben

 

[The Flying Dutchman]

Dutch.


IF you can still edit the post, click on "Go Advanced" and you can then edit the title.

THANK YOU CHUCK! I could still get on the article's posting and I sure changed up the thread's title; again thank you for the informtation.

 

[Dex]

I believe it fits into the category of the "chronic wasting diseases" like BSE, Scrapie and the general CWD that is sometimes found in game animals. It's not extremely uncommon but still a major concern especially to those animals and the people dependent upon them for food because all herds coming in contact have to be destroyed.

Remember that movie Hud? IIRC H&M was the disease that wiped out their herd, they had to put them all down because of some Mexican animals that he had bought and had been mixed in with the others. There have been a few epidemics in real life and the only solution is complete destruction of the livestock. A very sad thing.

 

[Be Well]

Marthanoir, I do remember that recent outbreak of a horrible disease causing stillborn lambs. The EU tyranny plus factory farming are both to blame IMO.

 

[Be Well]

from my first post.

The economic impact may create a tipping point.

DM

Oops, that's what I get for not reading every word of a thread.!!

 

[summerthyme]

Marthanoir, I do remember that recent outbreak of a horrible disease causing stillborn lambs. The EU tyranny plus factory farming are both to blame IMO.

Um... I think I have to disagree with you here. How is "factory farming" to blame for the migration of a midge carrying a nasty virus? Sometimes, this stuff just happens... much like Lyme disease in the US.

Summerthyme