March 12, 2004

Argentina To Be Declared Free of Major Poultry Disease

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is working on plans to formally recognize Argentina as being free of a highly contagious viral disease known as Newcastle, U.S. and Argentine officials said Thursday.
 
Formal recognition of Argentina as Newcastle-free nation could take place later this year.
 
"There are very few countries in the world that are free of Newcastle and having this status would have a significant impact on our poultry exports," said Claudio Sabsay, undersecretary of food and agriculture policy at the Agriculture Secretariat.
 
Newcastle is a severe viral disease that poses devastating threats to the poultry industry. It affects almost all avian species including domestic poultry, cage and aviary birds and wild birds. Strains of ND virus are present in most countries.
 
Though the disease does not endanger consumers of poultry, it can be spread through the movement of eggs and related products, as well as manure. Humans can also spread the disease through contaminated footwear or clothing.
 
Thanks largely to Argentina's currency devaluation in January of 2002, the country's poultry export industry is experiencing substantial growth.
 
In 2002, Argentina exported 45,809 metric tons of poultry products. During the first five months of 2003, the volume of exports rose 69% compared with the previous year, according to Secretariat data.
 
Analysts say that because of problems with Avian Influenza in Asia and the U.S., Argentina is well positioned to boost poultry sales abroad.