October 24, 2005

FMD symptoms found in Brazil's Parana state
 

The Agricultural Department of the state of Parana in southern Brazil said late Friday that cattle on eight farms on the border of Mato Grosso do Sul have shown signs of FMD.

Blood samples have been collected from the herd and sent to a lab in Para state in the far north.

This is the first suspected case of the disease outside of the 25-kilometre radius within which the first case of FMD was confirmed by state and government officials on a farm in Eldorado, Mato Grosso do Sul.

The news comes after an announcement Thursday that 10 more countries have decided to ban Brazilian beef, making it a total of 41 nations in all.

On Wednesday, it appeared that the animal health officials had successfully managed to contain the disease within close proximity to Eldorado. Two properties in Japora, Mato Grosso do Sul, also had cattle with FMD.

Brazil is the world's largest beef exporter.