The director of the Educational Veterinary Hospital in Najaf, Moayed Karim, confirmed today, Wednesday, the intensification of epidemiological surveillance and veterinary control over animals and meat in the governorate, following reports of foot-and-mouth disease cases in neighboring countries.
Karim stated in a press interview that the veterinary staff dealt during the year 2026 with several endemic diseases in Iraq, including foot-and-mouth disease, Malta fever, and parasitic infections, particularly ticks, in addition to giving special priority to combating hemorrhagic fever due to its danger to human health.
He added that the hospital has raised the level of epidemiological surveillance since May of last year, under the direction of the Veterinary Department, and tightened control over incoming animals to the governorate in anticipation of the transmission of epidemic diseases.
He explained that preventive measures against zoonotic diseases are based on three main pillars: combating ticks through spraying and dipping campaigns, rapid response upon the registration of human cases by testing and spraying the exposed animals, alongside vaccinating animals and educating breeders on necessary health measures.
He noted that vaccination programs continue as part of the national program of the Veterinary Department at the Ministry of Agriculture, covering cows, buffaloes, sheep, and goats, while mobile veterinary teams cover the districts and sub-districts of the governorate.
He stated that the teams carry out continuous inspection rounds on slaughterhouses, butcher shops, and markets, in coordination with the health department, municipality, and security authorities, to monitor violations such as selling unmarked meat, slaughtering outside slaughterhouses, and not adhering to preservation conditions, confirming that violators are referred to the relevant authorities for necessary actions against them.
He pointed out that licensed slaughterhouses operate under normal conditions; however, the pressure increases during religious seasons and massive visits, necessitating the enhancement of their capacity to meet the volume of demand and reduce random slaughtering.
Karim explained that the hospital has a veterinary laboratory to conduct initial diagnostic tests, while samples of certain epidemic diseases are sent to central laboratories of the Veterinary Department for confirmatory tests, indicating that preventive measures are taken immediately upon suspicion of infection, without waiting for final results.
He added that the veterinary quarantine at Najaf International Airport is responsible for inspecting incoming animal shipments and verifying their health certificates before allowing their entry, explaining that the main challenges include the movement of livestock between provinces without health certificates, in addition to the circulation of frozen meat from unknown sources.
Karim urged citizens to purchase marked meat from licensed shops and encouraged breeders to cooperate with veterinary teams and report any disease symptoms or unusual mortality cases.