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UN agency warns of ‘critical outbreak’ of foot-and-mouth disease in Afghanistan
The highly contagious viral disease is spreading rapidly among cattle, sheep, and goats, placing enormous pressure on the livestock sector
A critical outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is currently unfolding across Afghanistan, risking the lives of millions of cattle, sheep and goats, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations warned Sunday in a post on X.
The agency said the “virus spreads fast and herders are losing their livelihoods”.
The highly contagious viral disease is spreading rapidly among cattle, sheep, and goats, placing enormous pressure on the livestock sector — a key pillar of Afghanistan’s rural economy.
According to veterinary experts, several key factors are driving the outbreak, including: Open and porous borders; Frequent movement of livestock across provinces and regions; Changing climate conditions; Limited access to vaccines; Inadequate veterinary infrastructure; Environmental stress and weakened animal health.
The FAO is actively working with local veterinarians, herders, and communities to contain the disease and prevent further spread, the agency said.
In 2024, FAO successfully vaccinated over 800,000 cattle against FMD as part of its nationwide animal health campaign.
The organization is now intensifying its efforts to reach more at-risk areas and vulnerable livestock populations.
“Protecting livestock means protecting livelihoods,” said an FAO representative.
“This outbreak poses a serious threat to food security and rural incomes. We must act quickly to scale up vaccination, strengthen surveillance, and improve veterinary outreach.”
For millions of Afghan families who rely on livestock for income, food, and farming, halting the spread of FMD is not only a public health priority—it’s a lifeline.
Ehsanullah Kamgar, spokesperson for the Badakhshan Provincial Police Command, said that 12 people were killed and three others were seriously injured in a traffic accident in Arghanjkhwah district of the province.
Kamgar added that the incident occurred at noon on Saturday in the Samdar area of Arghanjkhwah district.
According to him, the victims include men, women and children.
He explained that the incident happened when a Flancoach -type vehicle veered off the road due to poor road conditions and plunged into a ravine.
The injured were transferred to health centers for treatment, and the condition of some of them has been reported as critical.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has approved a plan to grant foreign investors residency permits ranging from one to ten years in exchange for investment in the country.
The decision was endorsed during a regular meeting of the Economic Commission, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.
According to a statement from the deputy PM’s office, a designated committee has been tasked with determining the length of residency based on the volume of investment, which will be categorized under specific criteria.
The Ministry of Interior has announced the delivery of several new, modern cars to the General Directorate of Traffic Police, replacing the older fleet that consisted mostly of trucks.
According to a ministry statement, the new vehicles, equipped with special traffic police colors, markings, and modern equipment, are expected to play a key role in maintaining traffic order in cities and on main roads, preventing accidents, and providing faster services to the public.
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