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On the occasion of the launching of the new mobile phone company, Cell phone stations lead to health and environmental hazards
LCHR has received several complaints from Bany Swief, Fayoum, Giza, Monofeya and Daqahleya governorates. Hundreds of their cattle have died although they have spent a lot of money on treating them from the skin disease, and they couldn't find any help from the veterinary administration. They have started to throw the dead cattle in the drainages fearing the spread of the disease that could kill the rest of their cattle or infect human beings.
Some farmers from Fayoum stated that there were more than 1000 dead cows, which is considered a waste to the animal wealth at the governorate, the owners of these cows threw them in Yousef's sea fearing the spread of the disease inside the village. The farmers presented complaints to the veterinary bureau in Fayoum which have picked up the dead cows from the sea and buried them. Some farmers in Fayoum stated that the disease has spread more after the vaccination of their cattle with local vaccine, as there were mistakes in the dosage which have led to the death of the cattle instead of curing them.
This skin disease is an endemic disease in Egypt since it has first appeared in 1998 and caused major economic losses at that time. We don't know exactly the origin of the disease or how it came to Egypt? But we do know that the veterinary administration did not fulfill its duty by providing vaccination to the cattle against this disease, and it didn't provide farmers with information about the dangers of this disease and how to take precautions against it. This disease has appeared and spread in most of the Egyptian villages in the past 2 weeks, and caused the death of hundreds of cattle there, which have resulted in extreme losses for the farmers especially small farmers who depend on cattle as their basic source of income.
Farmers stated that the effects of the ulcerative stomatitis "thrush" that has infected their cattle a few months ago didn't end yet. The negligence of the government and its contradicting policies have contributed greatly in the spread of the disease and the waste of the animal wealth. Farmers stress that the ulcerative stomatitis virus "thrush" has evolved into a stronger stage which make the available vaccine in Egypt ineffective against it.
LCHR presents farmers complaints to the Minister of Agriculture demanding him and all concerned officials to quickly help these farmers in facing this disease that destroys their income sources, we ask them to fight this disease before it spreads more and kills the remaining animal wealth causing more economic losses. LCHR also demands them to compensate the farmers for their losses to guarantee their right to a decent life.
For more information, please contact the Center.