Rome The first-ever outbreak in Morocco of the viral disease "peste des petits ruminants," also known as PRR, threatens to kill millions of sheep and goats and could spread to neighbouring countries, a United Nations agency warned Tuesday. According to the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization the outbreak has largely affected sheep, with 133 outbreaks identified in 29 of Morocco's provinces.
PPR, a very contagious disease affecting domestic goats and sheep as well as small wild ruminants, is transmitted through close contact between animals.
In its acute form, the disease is characterized by high fever, discharges from the eyes and nose, sores in the mouth, lesions of the mucous membranes, laboured breathing, and diarrhoea.
Mortality rates can reach 80 per cent, or even 100 per cent, with affected animals dying in the first week after being infected.
"This is the first ever occurrence of the disease in Morocco, which indicates that PPR has now crossed the natural barrier of the Sahara and poses a risk to North Africa," FAO said in a statement.
The origin of the outbreaks is currently unknown, but it is possible the disease was introduced through the movement of live, infected animals, FAO said.
Morocco's sheep population of 17 million and its goat population of 5 million, play an important role in supporting the livelihoods of millions of families.
With the Muslim holy month of Ramadan having begun in September, and the Eid al-Adha celebration in December, trading in livestock, particularly sheep, is set to increase in North Africa. Without proper control mechanisms, this could accelerate the spread of the virus, FAO warned.
FAO said that, in response to a request by the Moroccan government, it had fielded a rapid response mission to control and limit the spread of the disease.
