Morocco insists anti Foot-And-Mouth disease measures are preventive

Morocco's measures to prevent the spread of the foot-and-mouth disease are actually preventive ones, since the country is free from any case since April 1999, said head of the animal health department at the agriculture ministry.

The official said since 1977, Morocco has started an annual immunization campaign which shielded the livestock against diseases raging in other countries.

He added the regular campaign is now over and surveys showed a total absence of the virus in all sensitive species (ovines and bovines), calling for further vigilance.

On March 15, Morocco has banned the entry to Moroccan ports and airports of living animals from countries where the epidemic rages on. All animal products, with the exception of milk and dairy products, are submitted to a treatment while vehicles coming from the United Kingdom and France are disinfected.

Imports of vegetal products and animal feed from contaminated countries is not forbidden but submitted to an authorization by the health services of these countries, while grains and vegetal fodder are not considered as sources of contamination. In airports and ports, passengers coming from contaminated countries are called to abstain from bringing food likely to contain the virus.