In an official statement released on Saturday, Brazil’s Agriculture Ministry confirmed that a total of four cows have been  found to be infected with foot and mouth disease in the Careiro da Varzea in Amazonus state.

The same area had witnessed a previous outbreak of the disease, some three months earlier. Brazilian authorities admitted that the region was classified as a high risk area for foot and mouth, as animal health issues were only in the early stages of development. The infected livestock were discovered on a small ranch where 34 cows, 15 sheep, and a pig are reared for the local market.

All of the necessary organisations and Brazil’s neighbouring countries were informed immediately on confirmation of the outbreak. However, as the ranch is situated on a river island and can only be reached by boat, the likelihood of cross-contamination is deemed as very low. Nonetheless control points have been established to stop any movement of livestock into other uninfected areas.

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