MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

National emergency in Uruguay

Uruguay declared a national emergency following the confirmation of two foot and mouth, FAM, outbreaks in Soriano, just across from Argentina, and one of the richest farming areas of the country.

Both cases were reported in two model dairy farms that also specialize in exporting Holstein heifers to Brazil, but also are very close to some of the main access routes to the country from one of the international bridges across the river Uruguay that links with Argentina.

The immediate reaction of the Uruguayan government was to ban access to the area and begin applying the sanitary rifle to all animals inside a five miles radius.

Uruguayan president Jorge Batlle who had just finished a 45 minutes meeting with US President George Bush in the White House on receiving the news cancelled the rest of his appointments in the United States and flew back to Montevideo.

In spite of having 50 million US dollars worth of beef en route to world markets Uruguay reported the situation to its clients simultaneously with the measures imposed to contain the disease.

Uruguay has opted for such drastic measures since its the only country in the area together with Chile, considered free of FAM. Argentina and Brazil have certain areas free of FAM but with vaccination.

However there's growing concern among Uruguayan farmers associations that if the disease continues to spread, and if the situation in Argentina remains serious, time might be ripe to consider preventive circle vaccination in the outbreak spots and along the border areas, both with Argentina and Brazil.

President Batlle has indicated he will insist with the elimination of all animals in and close to the FAM cases, "since the country's international reputation in beef markets is at stake. An effort involving years and millions of dollars".

A similar situation occurred several months ago in the north of Uruguay when infected animal food was smuggled in from Brazil and FAM was reported among hogs. Almost 27.000 cattle and sheep had to be sacrificed.

But is was an area of extensive farming. Soriano on the other hand has intensive farming, some of the richest soil in the country and top quality beef and milk cattle. The situation could drastically change if farmers, as it is beginning to look, are willing to resist by blocking roads, the sanitary rifle.