Tunisia-Tunisian dairy farms on alert against tuberculosis

Tunisia is undergoing a decrease in milk production attributed to a tuberculosis epidemic affecting cattle herds. Khemais Skouhi, the head of animal production at the Akhmas agricultural complex in Siliana, reported that 88 dairy cows out of 213 in the complex, each producing about 18 liters of milk per day, have been impacted by tuberculosis. Legal measures are pending for the 30 cattle currently suspected of being infected.

The Rmilia agricultural complex, managed by Ghassan Al-Badawi, is also at stake with 50 cows suspected of infection out of 329 cattle. The complex has 290 dairy cows producing between 3,300 and 3,500 litres of milk per day. Workers at the farm are demanding protective equipment and regular visits from occupational health, which have been unavailable for nearly five years. Infringements were noted at the Rmilia complex, prompting the initiation of an administrative investigation.