Minister of Agriculture Aydarbek Saparov did not answer journalists' questions about possible cases of foot-and-mouth disease among livestock and did not name the vaccine being used. The head of the department stated that there is no mass livestock mortality in the country and that veterinary measures are being carried out as planned.
WHAT HAPPENED
As reported by Xaqmedia.kz, a journalist approached the minister with questions about cases of livestock mortality and the vaccination being carried out.
In response, Aydarbek Saparov stated that the situation is under control.
"Nowhere are livestock dying. Vaccination is being carried out, everything is going according to plan. So there is no cause for concern," said the minister.
He also reported on measures to prevent the introduction of infection into the country.
"We have closed the border to prevent the disease from entering the country. All work is being carried out on schedule. Our committee is working there today. So there is no need to unnecessarily escalate the situation," said Aydarbek Saparov.
WHICH QUESTIONS THE MINISTER DID NOT ANSWER
During the conversation, the journalist clarified several times what specific disease was being discussed, how many animals had become ill, and whether the situation was related to foot-and-mouth disease. Furthermore, the minister was asked to clarify which specific vaccine is being used for the animals.
In response, Aydarbek Saparov did not specify the diagnosis and did not disclose the name of the drug, merely repeating that vaccination is being carried out according to plan.
"I repeat once again: there is no livestock mortality. Yes, there have been cases of illness, but there is no particularly dangerous disease," said the minister.
WHY QUESTIONS ARE ARISING
In the West Kazakhstan Region (WKR) deaths of saiga antelopes and cases of disease among domestic livestock continue to be recorded. Authorities report ongoing laboratory research and do not give the definitive cause of the animal disease.
At the same time, farmers from the affected areas and some specialists are drawing attention to symptoms which, they say, are characteristic of foot-and-mouth disease. It should be noted that, according to official reports from the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), no cases of foot-and-mouth disease have been recorded in either saiga antelopes or domestic livestock.
Farms in the Bokeyorda, Zhanakala, Kaztalovka and Zhanibek districts of the WKR have already suffered losses due to the livestock disease. One of those affected, a resident of the Bokeyorda district, Azilkhan Biarystanov, lost 20 calves and one cow.
