CAIRO - The Minister of Agriculture confirmed 10,228 cases of foot-and-mouth disease in five governorates, with 704 calves having died. Minister Mohamed Reda Ismail said that the calves had died in the governorates of Gharbiya, Alexandria, Daqahliya, Qaliubiya, Suez and Cairo. "Of the positive cases, 1,626 were discovered in Gharbiya governorate only," Minister Ismail said, adding that the ministry officials have isolated animals with cloven hooves in affected areas, in a bid to contain the outbreak. As of Tuesday morning, he said, only 1,418 new cases had been detected in Alexandria, where 27 cows have died. No vaccinations have been planned as yet, the minister said, adding that the strain of the virus is of the pan-Asian type, also known as O1, the same type that hit cattle in Egypt about five years ago. The threat of foot-and-mouth disease has caused panic nationwide, with the police and health officials guarding inter-governorate crossings. Upper Egypt, specifically Beni Sueif governorate, is the epicentre of the outbreak of this highly infectious disease, which attacks livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats. "When we look at how the virus spreads, it's clear that every governorate is vulnerable," Minister Ismail warned, urging tougher checks on imported meat products.
