Home
News
3425 views
last update:Aug 28, 2006
Criticism grows on Brazillian FMD control
Claims that Foot and Mouth (FMD) disease
control measures in Brazil are inadequate were reinforced
recently.
Only last week results from routine FMD blood tests on just under 10,000
head of cattle in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso found that 382 head on 55
farms proved positive.
Serious concerns were also raised about the
Brazilian vaccination programme on farms. On 62% of the farms where cattle
reacted positively to the tests, farmers had not vaccinated all the animals on
the farm as specifically requested by the federal government.
Preventive isolation measures have now been imposed in the counties of
Eldorado, Japorá and Mundo Novo in the heart of Mato Grosso do Sul.
Over the past month there have been conflicting reports on possible FMD
outbreaks in Paraguay on ranches located just 20 km from its border with the
Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Despite Paraguayan officials reporting
that it was a bacterial infection and not FMD, officials in Mato Grosso
attempted to close the 400 km of border between themselves and Paraguay.
Since FMD affects any hooved animal like pigs, sheep, deer or goats, pork
trade from Brazil has already been suffering from heavy declines. More than 50
countries have already suspended their pork trade with Brazil - including
Russia, in 2005 the largest buyer with 400,000 tonnes pork from
Brazil.
Editor PigProgress
To comment, login here
Or register to be able to comment.