November 2, 2005
Brazil to vaccinate 160 million head of cattle against FMD
The second phase of vaccination against FMD started on Nov 1 in 15 Brazilian states, and the goal is to vaccinate over 160 million animals, or 80 percent of the country's total cattle population.
Some of the states, such as Rondônia and São Paulo, decided to start its cattle vaccination earlier after FMD was detected in Mato Grosso do Sul recently.
Roberto Rodrigues, the country's minister of Agriculture, Livestock, and Supply, said that no cattle shall go without vaccination in Brazil, and this programme is critical in reopening the Brazilian cattle and meat market after its latest FMD cases, which resulted in nearly 50 countries suspending purchases of Brazilian meat.
Rodrigues hopes that embargoes will be lifted by year-end and revealed that Brazil would be travelling to countries that purchase Brazilian meat to explain the measures taken to contain the disease.
There are also plans to install laboratories in four states such as São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul to test for FMD.