Oman- MoAF takes measures to check CCHF imposes new curbs on cattle import

6/30/2016 7:13:39 AM

(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) Muscat-

In a slew of measures to check the spread of a contagious disease like Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF), the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF) has reduced the number of cattle that can be imported by nationals from 50 to two.

The ministry has also imposed a strict quarantine period for all imported cattle and designated a yard in Rusayl for the purpose. The ministry also ruled out any risk from eating well-cooked goat or sheep meat as social media was abuzz with many people questioning the safety of goats in animal farms and whether they are free from contagious diseases. Three deaths from CCHF have been reported this year.

The ministry added that it no longer allows imported animals to be transported to feedlots in the cities directly. They will be first kept in veterinary quarantine at a large yard in Rusayl to make sure they are free of infectious diseases before being allowed to be marketed. ''So all imported animals including Somali sheep will be first sent to Rusayl before being taken to individual farms.'' Australian sheep are exempted from this rule as strict quarantine measures are followed before they are shipped out.

It further added that import will be allowed only for big companies that have proven records in animal import as well as the need to have a commercial registration. MoAF also stressed on the importance to follow proper methods of slaughtering to ensure that humans do not get in direct contact with the blood of the sacrificed animal, as they might get infected.

''It is best to slaughter at the municipal slaughterhouses as they are equipped to manage the operations hygienically,'' the ministry said. The ministry is also coordinating with other stakeholders including the ministries of health and regional municipalities and water resources and the municipalities of Muscat, Dhofar and Sohar to boost awareness about zoonotic diseases and procedures to be followed to reduce the risk of transmission from animals to humans.

According to MoAF, CCHF is endemic in the sultanate and neighbouring countries for more than two decades. In 2014, 14 cases were reported; ten came to light in 2013 and three tested positive in 2012. Apart from these, three cases were recorded in 1995 and one in 1996. MoAF has said that the disease spreads only through an intermediary vector (ticks) or direct contact with the blood and tissues of the infected animal, especially among people with broken skin or injuries.

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