Sabha – Preventive measures taken by authorities in southern Libya have helped contain the spread of foot-and-mouth disease among livestock and stabilize the epidemiological situation. Veterinary inspection and disinfection efforts are ongoing to prevent new outbreaks.
Mahdi Hassan Mahdi, a member of the National Center for Animal Health in the southern region, told Al-Anbaa newspaper that closing livestock markets and banning the movement of animals between municipalities were key steps in containing the disease. He said the situation remains stable due to continued field monitoring.
Mahdi explained that teams from the center are carrying out spraying and disinfection operations in affected areas. Vehicles transporting livestock to slaughterhouses are also being disinfected, in coordination with the Committee for the Reorganization of the South, led by Major General Jamal Al-Amami, and the Agricultural Police, to support preventive efforts.
He added that the center has launched awareness programs for herders and residents, emphasizing ways to prevent the disease and urging people to follow health guidelines and report suspected cases to limit the spread of infection.
A specialized operations room has been set up to monitor the epidemiological situation and coordinate with relevant authorities. This team continues to track the health of livestock and assess new developments.
The Agricultural Police remain deployed at checkpoints and city entrances to supervise animal movements and enforce precautionary measures. The center has implemented a system requiring health certificates for animals and proof of spraying and disinfection of transport vehicles before allowing passage.
Mahdi said animals are subject to veterinary checks and necessary tests upon arrival at slaughterhouses. Slaughter is only allowed after completing inspections and confirming the animals are disease-free.
He noted that control efforts face challenges such as shortages of pesticides, vaccines, equipment, and protective gear for spraying teams. He stressed that providing these resources would boost the readiness of response teams and support efforts to control any further outbreaks.