China bans grazing animal imports from Iraq
A veterinary team member sprays cattle in a farm with disinfectant in Kirkuk, Iraq. Photo: AFP
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Chinese General Administration of Customs said that China has prohibited the direct and indirect import of ruminants and associated goods from Iraq due to a bluetongue disease epidemic.
The Chinese General Administration of Customs said last Friday that the action was taken in response to a report that was sent by Iraq to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) following the discovery of the disease in sheep, according to Reuters.
The virus causes fever, oral ulcers, and, in rare cases, a blue tongue in animals. The disease caused China to restrict similar imports from Belgium and the Netherlands.
Sheep and cows are particularly vulnerable to the disease.
According to the US Department of Agriculture, bluetongue is an arthropod-borne, non-contagious infectious disease of domestic and wild non-African ruminants.
Under field conditions, the causative agent, bluetongue virus (BTV), is typically transmitted by biting midges following a bite to consume a blood meal from susceptible animals.