The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and regional partners have launched a five-year strategy to improve prevention and control of foot-and-mouth disease across the Middle East. Unveiled during a virtual event on 29 September 2026, the Middle East Foot-and-Mouth Disease Prevention and Control Strategy 2026–2030 sets out a shared framework for preparedness, surveillance, vaccination planning and outbreak response. The initiative is designed to help countries reduce the impact of a highly contagious livestock disease that threatens food security, rural incomes and animal trade across borders.
Regional scope
The strategy covers Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. It was prepared through consultations with governments, technical bodies and international partners.
Why the disease remains a threat
Foot-and-mouth disease continues to challenge livestock systems because animals and animal products move frequently between countries. Differences in national capacity for monitoring, vaccination, early warning and emergency response can increase the risk of repeated outbreaks and cross-border spread.
Focus on cooperation
FAO officials and partner organizations emphasized that regional coordination will be central to success. The strategy promotes stronger veterinary services, timely data sharing, practical preparedness measures and closer alignment between national plans and regional priorities. Partners involved include the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development and the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease.
Next steps
The launch discussions focused on turning the framework into action through country ownership, technical cooperation and resource mobilization. Implementation is expected to link with broader global initiatives on transboundary animal diseases and support sustained investment in knowledge sharing, surveillance and coordinated disease control.