Mideast health authorities sought to contain the damage from the importation of foot-and-mouth disease-infected cows to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates today as Argentina reported two new outbreaks in its cattle-ranching heartland.
Eight cows imported into the UAE were found to have the disease, the daily al-Khaleejreported today. The UAE cases were "limited and contained," according to UAE Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Mr Saeed al-Ragabani.
The official Saudi Press Agency said two calves had been diagnosed with the highly contagious disease in neighboring Saudi Arabia. The cases were the first to be found in the Gulf states, which import most of their meat.
In Argentina, where the Farming and Food Health Agency confirmed an outbreak of the disease in Buenos Aires province on Tuesday, officials said yesterday they had discovered two new outbreaks in the nation's cattle-ranching heartland.
Countries around the world were stepping up efforts to stay free of the disease, banning meat and grain imports from the EU and increasing checks on travelers from Europe.
