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Foot-and-Mouth Scare Spreads to Middle East
The scare over foot-and-mouth disease that has rocked Europe spread to the Middle East on Wednesday, as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reported finding 10 cases.
Eight cows imported into the UAE were found to have the disease, the daily al-Khaleej reported. The UAE cases were "limited and contained," according to UAE Agriculture and Fisheries Minister Saeed al-Ragabani. He added that it was not yet clear where the imported cows had originated.
The official Saudi Press Agency said two calves had been diagnosed with the highly contagious disease in neighboring Saudi Arabia. The cases were the first to be found in the Gulf states, which import most of their meat.
Countries around the world stepped up efforts to stay free of the disease on Wednesday, banning meat and grain imports from the European Union and increasing checks on travelers from Europe.
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