Mysterious Livestock Disease Sparks Concern in Morocco’s Al Haouz Region

Is sheep farming in danger? PPS deputy Nadia Touhami, in a written question addressed to the Minister of Agriculture, reported that "many breeders in the Ait Mergen douar, in the Sitti Fadma commune in the Al Haouz province, have been surprised by cases of sudden death of sheep and goats, affected by a contagious animal disease that manifests itself in the form of white or red tumors in the liver and lungs" and called on him to act urgently to treat the affected animals and stop the spread of the disease. Not to mention reminding that livestock farming is the main source of income for the inhabitants of the municipalities concerned.

Contacted by telephone by Le360, a source within the National Association of Sheep and Goat Breeders (ANOC) "claims not to have been aware of cases of contagious disease in the Al Haouz region". She then invited the breeders concerned to first consult the veterinary services of the ONSSA. These breeders have also received a visit from a delegation composed of representatives of the National Office of Agricultural Advice (ONCA) and the National Office of Sanitary Safety of Food Products (ONSSA) who looked into the matter. "The diagnosis made by the veterinarians ruled out the hypothesis of a contagious disease," confided a member of the delegation.

He added: "An antiparasitic vaccine was administered free of charge to the suspect herds. The livestock also benefited from antibiotic treatment and injections against enterotoxemia. An awareness day was also organized for the benefit of the breeders of these municipalities".