October 20, 2005

Brazil reports new FMD cases

Brazil's government has confirmed that foot-and-mouth disease, or FMD, had hit two more farms in Mato Grosso do Sul state.                            

The total number of farms found infected is now five. Both recently infected farms were within a 25-kilometer radius of the farm in the Eldorado area of Mato Grosso do Sul, where the first case was reported earlier this month.

24 cows out of a total of 340 head of cattle from both farms had been infected, according to the government.                                                           

Brazil is currently the world's largest beef exporter, with 1.9 million tonnes exported so far this year compared with 1.5 million in 2004, the government said.