Turkey Suspends All Animal Markets Nationwide to Curb Foot-and-Mouth Outbreak

Turkey has temporarily closed all livestock marketplaces nationwide to control the spread of a new serotype (SAT1) of the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease, which surged following increased animal movement during the Eid al-Adha celebrations. The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry emphasized that restricting animal movement, particularly at animal markets where direct contact occurs, is crucial and more effective than vaccination alone in halting the disease's spread. Despite the rapid development and deployment of vaccines against the new strain, authorities acknowledged that vaccinating all susceptible animals quickly is not feasible, necessitating strict movement controls. The ministry assured that the closures will not disrupt the supply and demand for meat and dairy products and that restrictions will be lifted gradually once vaccination coverage is sufficient. The decision follows genetic and antigenic changes detected in virus samples, prompting intensified vaccination and containment efforts across all provinces. Authorities have called on citizens to comply strictly with the closure to protect public health and the livestock sector from further risks.