NO FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE IN ARMENIA – AGRICULTURE MINISTRY

Tert.am
24.08.11

No cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been detected in Armenia,
according to an Agriculture Ministry official.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Grisha Baghyan, a Deputy Minister of
Agriculture, said the recent cattle death in the village of Tchambarak
(Gegharkunik region) was not caused by foot-and-mouth disease. He
added that serious anti-epidemic measures have been undertaken to
prevent an outbreak on the territory of Armenia.

“Serious work has been carried out to prevent the penetration of
the foot-and-mouth disease into Armenia,” he said, adding that the
reported cases of deaths had been caused by blood parasites.

Baghyan noted further that Ashtarak Kat, a leading milk manufacturer
on Armenia’s dairy market, continues procuring milk from Tchambarak,
though it has reduced the milk prices due to a recent climate change.

As for compensating villagers for lost cattle, he said the issue was
raised only two years ago during the outbreak of the swine disease.