Newsroom / CNA
An outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease is sweeping through livestock in Ardahan and surrounding areas in northeastern Turkey, alarming farmers who are losing animals and income, Turkish media reported Monday.
Livestock industry representatives warned that without urgent measures, the economic fallout could deepen. They said hundreds of animals have already died, leaving producers in financial distress.
Veterinarians called for stricter quarantine measures, expanded vaccination campaigns, and increased pharmaceutical support to contain the outbreak. They said the situation in Ardahan highlights the risk to livestock across the country.
Farmers are pressing the government for swift action to prevent further losses. Without intervention, they say, the outbreak could trigger a severe crisis in both meat and dairy production.
Foot-and-mouth disease, or FMD, is a highly contagious viral illness that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle and sheep. The disease spreads quickly and can devastate farming communities.
