Ministry bans imports of livestock from Iran

The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries has banned the imports of livestock from Iran, due to an outbreak of Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) virus among Iranian livestock, which affects both animal and humans.

The UAE imports 200,000 livestock annually from Iran to cover 20 per cent of UAE residents' consumption of meat. Sources from the market told Gulf News that a gap will be created in the UAE meat market with the ban, and that urgent measures need to be taken lest the price of meat rises in the market.

Last Tuseday, the ministry issued administrative decision No. 46 for the year 2002, which imposes a total ban on the import of livestock from Iran, or any other livestock originating in

"Due to reports of an outbreak of an epidemic in the Islamic Republic of Iran, the ministry has decided to stop imports of all live animals from Iran, and any other animals originating in Iran," states the communiqué.

The decision orders Abdullah Sultan, Director of Animal Health Department, to follow up on the situation in Iran by coordinating with international and regional organisations, and to submit within three days from the date of issuance of the decision, a report to the ministry on the health situation of Iranian livestock coming to the UAE through different ports of entry.

The decision also orders all authorities concerned to implement the decision with immediate effect.

Mohammed Saeed bin Mohammed Al Raqabani, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, has ordered the setting up of a committee, under the supervision of Rashid Mohammed Khalfan Al Shraqi, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Agriculture, to handle the matter.

Reliable sources confirmed that 30 per cent of Iranian livestock are affected with the CCHF. The source said quarantine authorities and media sources in Iran spread among 140 Iranians and 20 of them have died.

The Iran Times newspaper reported the incidents early this week.

Abdullah Sultan told Gulf News that the ministry through contact with international organisations has learned that CCHF is prevalent in Iran and the neighbouring former Soviet republics.

"For this reason, the Ministry has taken this precautionary measure," he said.

He added that all animals from Iran, which have been at sea during the issuance of this decision, will not be allowed to enter the ports of the country.

He stressed that livestock, which reached the UAE before the issuance of the decision, will be sent to quarantines to ensure that they are not carrying the disease.

A press release from the World Health Organisation (WHO) explains that a human being acquires the CCHF virus from direct contact with the blood of infected livestock or their tissue.

Humans may also be affected by the bite of ticks that exist on the infected animal. The majority of cases occur with people involved in animal farms, slaughtering houses, and veterinaries. The report further explains that the onset of symptoms is sudden, with fever, myalgia (aching muscles), dizziness, neck pain and stiffness, backache, headache, sore eyes and photophopia (sensitivity to light).

There may be nausea, vomiting and sore throat early on, which may be accompanied by diarrhoea and generalised abdominal pain.

Over the next few days, the patient may experience sharp mood swings, and may become confused and aggressive. After two or four days the agitation may be replaced by sleepiness, depression and lassitude, and the abdominal pain may localise the right upper quadrant, with detectable hepatomegaly (liver enlargement).

Patients who are suspected of – or confirmed to be – carrying CCHF should be isolated and cared for using barrier nursing techniques.