Fly strike expected to spread to mountainous districts [Archives:2008/1155/Local News]
By: Almigdad Mojalli
SANA'A, May 13 ) The General Manager of Animal Wealth Administration expected the movement of myiasis, also known as fly strike, to the mountainous districts as such districts are suitable environments for flies because of the cooler temperatures in summer. The administration stated that the number of myiasis cases decreased from 2,860 cases in March to 1,009 cases in April.
The administration attributed the movement of fly strike to climate factors that extend along the Tihama coast in Hodeidah and Hajjah governorates, where temperatures greatly increased, making the surrounding environment unsuitable for reproduction.
Dr. Ghaleb Al-Eryani, the general manger of the Animal Wealth Administration, stated that the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation is preparing a plan to fight myiasis in the mountainous districts where the disease is expected to exist.
Al-Eryani indicated that laboratory test results of patterns taken from animals in the governorates of Taiz and Marib affirmed that animals in these governorates are free from any infection, and the recording teams didn't record any infected cases..
Al-Eryani clarified that the administration in April treated many infected animals like sheep and goats in the governorates of Sa'ada, Mahwit, Hodeidah and Hajjah. He pointed out that most of the infected cases were in Hodeidah, followed by Sa'ada, Hajjah and finally Mahwit.
According an animal wealth administration report, fly strike fighting teams in April treated more than 17,800 animals infected with fly strike in many districts of Sa'ada, Hodeidah, Mahwit and Hajjah governorates.
The report detailed that the protected animals by vaccinations and sprinkling by disinfectants covered 367 thousands, 286 of sheep, 286 thousands and 605 of goats in addition to 17 thousands and 722 of cows, 428 camels and 18 thousands and 180 of other animals like dogs and donkeys.
The report added that the number of animals which died from myiasis reached 446, and 43 recording and fighting teams are conducting precautionary investigations in many governorates. The teams were distributed throughout various governorates, with 18 teams to Hodeidah, nine to Hajjah, seven to Sa'ada and four to Mahwit, in addition to three in Taiz and one team in both Ibb and Dhamar governorates.
Fly strike appeared in Hajjah governorate in the beginning of 2008 and spread in recent months to the governorates of Hodeidah, Sa'ada and Mahwit.
According to Wikipedia.org, myiasis is an animal or human disease caused by parasitic dipterous fly larvae feeding on a host's necrotic or living tissue. It is a common disease in sheep, especially in areas with hot and wet conditions.
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