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FAO: Livestock epidemic causing havoc in Congo
27.06.2012 08:02 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) —
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a livestock disease has already killed 75,000 goats and is threatening neighboring countries, according to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
FAO says the epidemic is the worst the agency has seen in a decade and is mobilizing emergency support to contain it. The agency warns that a million more goats could die along with 600,000 sheep.
Peste des petits ruminants or PPR is also known as ovine rinderpest and is highly lethal with an 86 percent mortality rate. It is caused by a virus that is similar to measles in humans.
FAO says the disease not only threatens food security in the country, but could also result in a spill-over to southern African countries that have never had the disease.
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