The National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) reported on Saturday cases of foot-and-mouth disease detected in sick cattle from a farm located in the rural commune of Bouhmame, falling under the province of Sidi Bennour. "Within the framework of the health surveillance of foot-and-mouth disease, laboratory investigations carried out last Thursday on sick cattle from a farm located in Douar Lmouarid, rural commune of Bouhmame, falling under the province of Sidi Bennour, confirmed the presence of foot-and-mouth disease," notes ONSSA in a statement.

To limit the spread of the disease to other farms, control measures were immediately taken and applied by the provincial veterinary service of Sidi Bennour in collaboration with local authorities, at the level of the farm where the disease was declared. This involves placing the farm under surveillance and prohibiting the entry or exit of animals susceptible to the disease as well as their products (milk, meat, etc.), the slaughter and destruction on site of infected animals, the obligation for people entering and leaving the focus of foot-and-mouth disease, buildings, and premises housing susceptible animals to observe biosecurity measures (installation of footbaths and vehicle disinfection baths, etc.). Cleaning and disinfection of the farm (premises and equipment, etc.), vaccination of cattle around the focus, and the launch of an epidemiological survey in the area were also carried out, adds the statement.