Iraqi farmer Saadoun Roumi, who has lost five of his 15 buffaloes to foot-and-mouth variant despite vaccinating his entire herd, stands at his farm in the village of Badush, northwest of the city of Mosul, on February 7, 2023.  - The severe, highly contagious livestock disease has plagued Iraq for decades, but this year's outbreak has already had a devastating impact described as unprecedented by veterinarians in Nineveh province.  This strain -- never before recorded in Iraq -- is resistant to the vaccines normally used in the country, leaving authorities scrambling to obtain the right doses to inoculate livestock and prevent further spread.  (Photo by Zaid AL-OBEIDI  /  AFP)

Foot-and-mouth strain hits Iraq's buffalo herd, threatening livelihoods — in pictures



Updated: February 10, 2023, 8:50 AM