UN warns of Middle East livestock danger

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation has warned that an epidemic of the flesh-eating screwworm fly has infected tens of thousands of livestock in Iraq, and is spreading quickly in Kuwait and Iran.

There was also an increasing risk of the infestation spreading to Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.

The agency says that the Iraqi authorities have been unable to deal with the problem.

Experts say infection spread by the screwworm fly, which primarily attacks cattle, sheep, and goats, can be fatal if not properly treated.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service