Uzbekistan has declared a “Sanitary, Epidemiological and Hygiene Month in Livestock” from April 18 to May 18, following reports of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in Russia, China, Kazakhstan, and other countries.

Jahongir Tursagatov, head of a department at the Veterinary and Livestock Development Committee, stated that FMD is a highly contagious acute viral disease affecting cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and other cloven-hoofed animals. The virus is resistant to environmental factors, especially in humid and cool conditions.

Clinical signs include vesicles in the mouth, on the udder and hooves, salivation, fever, and a sharp drop in milk production (50-75%). Mortality in young animals can reach 80-100%.

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), 11,100 FMD cases were reported in 48 countries during 2025-2026. In Uzbekistan, serotypes A, O, and Asia-1 are prevalent. Recently, new variants have emerged.

No FMD cases have been recorded in Uzbekistan for the past 25-30 years, but the risk of introduction remains high due to neighboring countries (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Iran). The current epizootic situation is stable.

Preventive vaccination is being carried out in 82 districts along the 6,221 km buffer zone. In 2025, 14,583 tests showed immunity levels of 83% for serotype A, 82% for O, and 84% for Asia-1.

A draft government resolution proposes temporary restrictions on importing cloven-hoofed animals and their products from several Russian regions. Additionally, the procurement of 20 million doses of polyvalent vaccine has begun.

This year, 39 million livestock will be vaccinated against 11 diseases, and 106 million poultry against 4 diseases. As of April 28, 4.5 million animals have been vaccinated against FMD. All vaccinations are free of charge, funded by the state budget.

Source: www.gazeta.uz