Almanassa has monitored alarming data in the poultry sector in Libya’s Jabal al-Akhdar region. Saleh Bou Mubarak, the Director of the Livestock Department in the region, confirmed the death of approximately 53,000 birds within just ten days. Speaking from the city of Al-Bayda, Bou Mubarak warned that the situation poses a direct threat to local food security and farmers’ livelihoods, noting that 16 poultry farms have been entirely decimated.
During recent field inspections, authorities discovered a farm holding 14,000 chickens, of which 8,000 were found to be infected with the highly contagious Newcastle virus. Dr Rafeh al-Tuwati, Director of the Animal Health Office, stated that laboratory analysis of samples from affected farms confirmed the spread of both the Newcastle and IB (Infectious Bronchitis) viruses. He called for the urgent provision of vaccines and disinfectants, insisting that infected birds must be culled on-site to prevent the contagion from spreading to neighbouring facilities.
Saleh al-Faqih, an official at the Animal Health Office, reported that a single farm saw the death of 16,000 birds, highlighting that the lack of veterinary oversight and resources remains the primary obstacle. Officials have strictly prohibited the marketing or slaughter of any poultry from non-compliant farms without explicit health clearance and supervision from the Municipal Guard, amid fears that diseased birds could be illegally introduced into the local market.
Regarding support, Bou Mubarak highlighted that while the General Command of the Armed Forces has intervened to provide subsidised meat and fodder, the Ministry of Agriculture and the National Centre for Animal Health lack the necessary resources and compensation funds to manage the outbreaks. Officials concluded by calling on the Libyan government to allocate an emergency budget for vaccinations to stabilise the market and protect what remains of the region’s livestock.
Implementation of field work and breeder awareness programs, alongside the critical need for urgent government support to prevent the escalation of the epidemic, protect farmers, and ensure the stability and food security of the local market
