Morocco Halts European Cattle Imports Amid EHD Outbreak Concerns

According to authorized sources, the competent Moroccan authorities have suspended the import of cattle from Europe until further notice due to the spread of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD), according to the Arabic-language daily Al Ahdath Al Maghribia. Transmitted by biting midges, EHD is a viral disease that affects cattle and deer. Not transmissible to humans, this disease causes fever, muzzle ulcerations, nasal discharge (runny nose) and lameness in cattle. Present in the United States, EHD has been detected in Europe a year ago. It was detected for the first time in France on September 18 in three farms located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques and Hautes-Pyrénées, before spreading to the southwest quarter of the country. In total, 2,954 outbreaks have been recorded in the various farms in France. Outbreaks have also been detected in other European countries such as Italy, Switzerland or Spain.

Faced with the threat posed by EHD, the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) is playing the vigilance card. "All imported live animals were subject to strict and regular control at the border inspection centers," ONSSA had said in a statement to the same daily, explaining that once the examinations were carried out, the ONSSA veterinary inspector was responsible for drawing up medical certificates to validate their admission. Healthy animals are allowed to enter the national territory. After their entry, the next step is to isolate these animals in approved stables. Then, a sworn veterinarian and a veterinary commission monitor the livestock, with the aim of supervising the quarantine operation.