September 22, 2011

Paraguay destroys 1,000 cattle to fight FMD

In an effort to fight the spread of FMD, the Paraguayan authorities ordered the destruction of 1,000 cattle on September 20.

The initial case was detected on September 18 by Paraguay's National Animal Quality and Health (SENACSA) at a ranch in the town of Sargento Loma in the district of Ycuamandiyu in the department of San Pedro, approximately 400 km north of the capital Asunción and around 165 km from the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul. So far 13 cattle have been discovered to have the disease. Paraguay has suspended its livestock exports for 80 days and ordered the large-scale destruction of cattle in the area of the outbreak. Brazil has extended its response measures to include a complete ban on imports of Paraguayan beef, pork, cattle, and pigs.

Moreover, Peru has banned the import of Paraguayan livestock for the next 180 days, while Argentina and Uruguay have closed their respective borders to animals and animal by-products from Paraguay. Beef is Paraguay's second most prominent export after soy and, according to the Financial Times, the country exported approximately 170,000 tonnes of meat in 2010. President of the Paraguayan Meats Industry Chamber, Mari Llorens, estimated that the crisis will cost the Paraguayan economy some US$70 million per month and that it could take up to eight months for the country to return to its normal health status.

With the destruction of 1,000 cattle, FMD eradication and control is Paraguay's immediate priority thus minimising economic costs. The outbreak of FMD in neighbouring Paraguay will be disturbing for regional meat producers, including Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay because of the ease at which it could spread if not effectively controlled. Paraguay's lengthy porous borders with Brazil and Argentina, which facilitate the illicit transit of animals between the countries, will make controlling the outbreak more difficult, especially if it becomes more widespread in Paraguay itself.