Foot and Mouth Disease, Rinderpest, Peste des Petits Ruminants and Avian Influenza in the Erbil, Dohuk, and Sulaimania Governorates of Iraq

Abstract

SummaryFoot and mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in the northern part of Iraq have been reported. The outbreaks in 1998/1999 were due to type O virus and the disease was associated with significant mortalities especially in young calves and lambs. Furthermore, 10 FMD‐like incidents in cattle were reported in 2002 in the three northern governorates. However, these cases were not associated with mortalities and the disease remained localized in the primary foci. Type A virus was isolated from the tested samples, which appears to belong to a genetic lineage within the Iran‐96 topotype. A peste des petits ruminants (PPR) outbreak was reported on 27 July, 1998 in Faida, a border town between Ninevah and Dohuk governorates in Iraq. The disease was also reported from four villages: Azadi, Kherpe Sufla, Beibinava and Kendala Sur in northern Iraq. Outbreaks of PPR were also reported in the Aqre region of Dohuk and in Erbil and Sulaimania governorates. Although this disease had been suspected in the central and northern governorates for several years, and was known to be present in neighbouring countries, this was the first official report of PPR in the country and caused great concern. Two human cases of avian influenza (AI) were recorded in the Sulaimania Governorate in January 2006 and the virus was identified as H5N1 by the WHO collaborating laboratory in the United Kingdom. Based on clinical symptoms a number of cases were recorded in February, 2006 in Misan in South Iraq. However, further tests revealed that all these cases were not due to AI.