A severe outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Kuwait has affected more than 8,000 cows over the past month, leading to a sharp 75% drop in fresh milk production — from 250,000 litres per day to just 100,000 litres, according to the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources.
Salem Al Hai, Director General of the authority, confirmed that 31 out of Kuwait’s 44 cow farms have reported FMD cases. While 952 cows have recovered, 71 have died from the highly contagious viral disease, which poses a serious threat to the country’s meat and dairy sectors.
Vaccines to contain the outbreak are expected to arrive within two weeks. In the meantime, Al Hai urged farm workers to rigorously follow sanitation protocols, including sterilising milking equipment and tools.
He also stressed the need to train staff and raise awareness about preventive measures to curb further spread and support recovery of the dairy industry.
