MV Cormo Express Sheep fit, free of diseases -- World Animal Health

KUN0074 4 GEN 0195 KUWAIT /KUNA-KMM9 AGR-KUWAIT-AUSTAI-SHEEP MV Cormo Express Sheep fit, free of diseases -- World Animal Health Organization KUWAIT, Oct 6 (KUNA) -- Australian Chief Veterinary Officer Gardner Murray said Monday the Organisation Internationale des Epizooies (OIE) or World Animal Health Organization found that the sheep on board the MV Cormo express are fit and healthy and free of disease and suitable for admission to any country in the region. Murray explained in a press conference held here today the ship will leave the port within two days once it loads all the feed and necessary supplies. He stated that the Australian Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Warren Truss, on behalf of the Australian Government, expressed appreciation for the support provided by the Government of Kuwait in facilitating an opportunity for official inspection by a senior veterinary surgeon Moreover, Murray said "the welfare of the sheep aboard the Cormo Express remains the highest priority for the Australian Government". He added that the Australian government is still negotiating different deals with about 21 countries none of them from the GCC. - The OIE veterinarian's report said there is no evidence of significant outbreak of scabby mouth aboard the vessel at any time during the voyage, he pointed out. Murray mentioned that the vessel arrived in Jeddah on the 21st of August and for some technical reasons the deal did not complete but added that this will not affect the relationship between the two countries. Furthermore, he said that there is a veterinarian on the ship who has 3 degrees in different areas and is considered one of the best qualified personnel in his area who did a good job along with the whole crew to maintain the sheep on board. In addition, Manager of livestock Services in the Middle East and Africa Region Dr. Nigal Brown said that the negotiations have become more difficult due to the negative media coverage on the sheep abroad the vessel. Brown explained that the sheep are healthy and some stories have been overstated such as the small fire incident that happened yesterday and caused very little harm. Still, he said that during the last 24 hours about 34 sheep died but because of the heat and humidity and not because of any disease. Brown stated that the vessel started its journey with about 59,000 heads of sheep from Western Australia with a mortality rate of about 8.97 percent and the number dead sheep today is around 5,198 heads. (end) hmd.mab KUNA 061727 Oct 03NNNN