Sick Cows... Agriculture Takes Action

The Ministry of Agriculture clarified, following complaints from several farmers and discussions on some media outlets and social media platforms regarding the appearance of sick cows in the Qaroun area – Western Beqaa, that "the specialized technical and veterinary teams at the General Directorate of Agriculture – Animal Wealth Directorate, under the direction of Minister of Agriculture Dr. Nizar Hani, have immediately moved to the affected area, where they began field inspections of herds and followed up on recorded cases, providing necessary health and preventive guidance to farmers."

In a statement, it affirmed that "the observed cases are under continuous technical and veterinary monitoring, aiming to assess the health situation, identify causative factors, and take appropriate preventive and therapeutic measures according to established scientific and veterinary standards."

As part of preventive measures, the Ministry will issue official letters to "municipalities located around Lake Qaroun, requesting intensified measures against insects and disease vectors, particularly flies, mosquitoes, and other insects capable of transmitting certain animal diseases, using permitted and officially registered pesticides, in accordance with environmental and health regulations, thereby helping reduce vector density and limit disease transmission risks."

The Ministry noted that "some diseases affecting livestock may be linked to the proliferation of disease-carrying insects and surrounding environmental, climatic, and health factors, underscoring the need for an integrated approach including veterinary surveillance, vaccination, vector control, and improved hygiene and biosecurity conditions on farms."

It also reiterated its "reminder to cattle and other livestock breeders of the necessity to adhere to approved vaccination and prevention programs, not neglect recommended vaccines against contagious diseases, along with implementing biosecurity measures, continuously monitoring animals, isolating any animal showing symptoms, and immediately contacting relevant agricultural and veterinary offices upon suspicion of any case."

The Ministry stressed that "a precise diagnosis of any animal disease relies on veterinary examination, laboratory tests, and established scientific procedures; therefore, it is unacceptable to anticipate results or make unsubstantiated diagnoses, as this could have negative consequences for farmers, the livestock sector, and food safety chains."

In this context, the Ministry appealed to media outlets and social media users to exercise accuracy and responsibility when sharing information about animal health, urging them to refer to official data and sources before disseminating any information or conclusions. Unverified or unscientific news can cause unnecessary alarm, damage the reputation of Lebanese livestock production and dairy and cheese products, and directly harm thousands of committed farmers, breeders, and producers adhering to health standards, in addition to potential legal liabilities arising from spreading false or misleading information.

The Ministry affirmed that it "directly and continuously monitors any reported cases of illness or suspected cases in livestock across Lebanese territory, with its technical and veterinary teams always on standby to conduct field inspections, provide guidance, and implement necessary preventive and health measures in coordination with relevant authorities. Protecting animal health, human health, food safety, and sustainable national production remain top priorities, through a science-based approach grounded in prevention, early detection, rapid response, and accurate veterinary and laboratory diagnosis."