Paraguay announces new FMD strategy
From 1 February, 2012, Paraguay will start to implement a new method against foot and mouth disease (FMD), in the wake of two outbreaks of the illness hitting the country in less than four months.
The new plan includes intensified vaccination with increased coverage and control, Head of the National Service of Animal Health and Quality (SENACSA), Felix Otazu.
He explained that the new mechanism will cover the entire country, aimed at gradually regaining “national and international credibility”, and winning back the most demanding markets of meat and byproducts, Chile and the EU.
Paraguay lost the FMD-free country evaluation trough vaccination last year after an outbreak of the illness was detected in a farm in Sargento Loma.
Meanwhile, Uruguay maintains strict control measures at border checkpoints in order to tighten the health barrier system in the wake of several FMD cases registered in neighbouring Paraguay.
Head of Animal Health Francisco Muzio defined the Uruguayan situation in this regard as “very good if compared to the rest of the region”. He said that animal health actions include cattle vaccination and clean up of trucks and containers coming from Paraguay.
