August 27, 2004

Brazil Battles Foot-And-Mouth Disease On Paraguay Border

Brazil launched a major campaign to vaccinate cattle for foot-and-mouth disease along the border with Paraguay following cases of respiratory infection in Paraguay, the agriculture ministry said late Wednesday.
 
Around 250,000 animals will be re-vaccinated in the districts of Sete Quedas, Paranhos, Coronel Sapucaia and Aral Moreira in the center-west state of Mato Grosso do Sul, said a press release.
 
While not harmful to humans, foot-and-mouth disease can devastate herds of cloven-hoofed animals.
 
Brazil has the world's largest commercial cattle herd and is expected to become the No.1 beef exporter in 2004. But a number of countries have banned its fresh meat because foot-and-mouth is not yet controlled there.
 
In June, Brazil registered its first outbreak in 34 months in the northern state of Para.