FMD crisis in Kuwait: Over 8,000 dairy cows affected & milk production decreases

KUWAIT – A severe outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Kuwait has affected more than 8,000 cows, leading to a sharp 75% drop in fresh milk production.

FMD is characterised by fever and blisters in the mouth and on the feet of affected livestock, accompanied by lameness. Although few adult animals succumb to disease, young ones may die from sudden heart failure. 

According to the Public Authority for Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources, Kuwait, milk production has decreased from 250,000 litres per day to just 100,000 litres.

The outbreak has led to a significant drop in local milk production, estimated between 20 to 30 per cent, which has created a gap between supply and demand, exerting financial pressure on suppliers.

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.

Concurrently, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry has received formal reports from affected dairy companies indicating a 30 to 40 per cent spike in operational costs.

Dairy companies in Kuwait stated that the imbalance is also affecting milk distributed through the government’s ration card system, proposing financial compensation to offset the losses incurred due to rising production costs and falling sales margins.

In response, the Minister of Commerce, Khalifa Al-Ajeel, emphasised that any measures to address the issue must not involve increasing the retail price of fresh milk, either in the market or through government supply channels. He noted that the current crisis is temporary and does not warrant a permanent adjustment in consumer pricing.

New FMD outbreaks in South Africa

The FMD has taken root in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and the Eastern Cape, raising an alarm across South Africa’s dairy sector, prompting urgent calls for stricter biosecurity measures.

According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), KZN has recorded 165 FMD outbreaks, 147 of which are still active, while the Eastern Cape has reported 40 cases, 39 of which remain unresolved.

The outbreaks have struck at the heart of South Africa’s dairy regions. The Eastern Cape, home to nearly a third of the nation’s dairy herd, is grappling with the impact, while KZN, which accounts for 29% of the country’s milk-producing cattle, is also facing significant losses.

World FMD outbreak

According to the FAO, the FMD has affected several other dairy animals in different countries. Among them is Germany, which detected an outbreak this past January but has since been declared FMD-free; however, subsequent outbreaks in Hungary and Slovakia have persisted.

FMD is endemic in the Near East, but the recent upsurge is due to an exotic serotype likely introduced from East Africa.  Cases have been reported in Bahrain, Iraq and Kuwait, although other countries are at high risk.

Many strains of the FMD virus continue to circulate in different parts of the world, and the recent outbreaks in both Europe and the Near East highlight the ongoing risk the disease poses to livelihoods, food security and safe trade.

While all governments are urged to be vigilant, the agency said affected and high-risk countries should consider awareness-raising measures among farmers and communities to protect livestock. 

Other recommendations include biosecurity measures such as separating sick animals from other livestock and having them examined by professionals, alongside checking vaccination records and verifying FMD contingency plans.

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