October 12, 2007

US university to study FMD in South America

Kansas State University's College of Veterinary Medicine is sending a delegation to South America to track the progress of FMD eradication.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) was supposed to be eradicated from the Western Hemisphere by 2010.

Dean of the college, Ralph Richardson and Associate Dean, Lisa Freeman will travel to Paraguay next week to meet with Dr David Ashford, assistant area and regional director at the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in Rio De Janeiro.

Ashford also coordinates foot-and-mouth disease cases in South America and is liaison to the Pan American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Centre.

Richardson and Freeman will work on creating a system of externships and field experiences for undergraduate, graduate and professional students.

South America experienced a major foot-and-mouth outbreak in 2001 in northern Argentina, Uruguay and southern Brazil which culminated in the culling of 20,000 animals.

An estimated US$35 million was lost in exports of fresh meat.

More than 50 countries have imposed full or partial bans on Brazilian beef since the outbreaks. In spite of the bans, Brazil remains the world's top beef exporter.

Although the US has not experienced any FMD mouth outbreaks since 1929, the country is not immune to the animal disease, Ashford said adding that diligence must be exercised in monitoring and prevention.