Egypt: Foot and mouth disease in cattle sparks demand for camel meat
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-Pastor-Dale-Morgan-
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Jun 4, 2012, 2:35:17 PM6/4/12
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Plagues,
Pestilences and Diseases
Egypt: Foot and mouth disease in cattle sparks demand for
camel meat
By Katerina Nikolas
Jun 4, 2012
Cairo - Demand for camel meat is growing in Egypt as a strain of
SAT2 foot and mouth disease sweeping across the nation has
decimated cattle production and left the populace fearful of
consuming beef.
According to the Cattle Site government officials suspect that
smuggled shipments of infected sheep and cattle from Libya caused
the outbreak of foot and mouth disease, which is responsible for
killing about ten percent of cattle.
The Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations
reported their livestock census data for Egypt showed "6.3 million
buffalo and cattle and 7.5 million sheep and goats are at risk."
It advised "this is an entirely new introduction of a virus strain
known as SAT2, and livestock have no immune protection against
it."
Humans are not at risk of catching foot and mouth disease from
infected cattle, but meat and milk from infected stock are not fit
for human consumption. Egyptians have responded to the crisis by
switching to camel meat, according to Alarabiya. Camels are
imported from Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Uganda to the domestic
market, where traditional camel dishes include camel steaks and
camel kebabs.
The Birqash Camel Market (Soul El-Gamal), 60km from Cairo, is
advertised as an authentic Egyptian experience and tourist
attraction, for those who are not faint-hearted. However,
Alarabiya reported some people object to the cruelty towards
camels which may be tied up and beaten in the market.