MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

FAM vaccination in Uruguay.

With over fifty reported cases of possible foot and mouth disease, FAM, outbreaks extending along the Argentine border, Uruguayan authorities have opted for a massive cattle vaccination campaign in an attempt to isolate the area, which has now extended to almost 20% of the country's territory.

The country with the strictest cattle sanitary measures in Mercosur, Uruguay has had to admit defeat in its attempts to prevent the spread of FAM from its two powerful neighbors, Argentina and Brazil, where the disease is endemic. Uruguay immediately reported the outbreak and could now be forced to take back almost 50 million US dollars in beef currently sailing or landed in foreign markets.

The blow is particularly devastating for a country that was declared free of FAM since 1995 and managed access for its beef in top world markets, USA, Europe, Japan and Korea. Uruguayan beef sales represent 25% of the country's exports.

The decision to resort to vaccination means the country's controversial policy of destroying animals in the area close to the outbreak has come under serious consideration following strong protests from farmers, particularly dairy farmers, who oppose killing cows in production with two/three decades genetic improvements.

The first vaccination stage is anticipated to cover almost a million head of cattle, our of a total 14 million population.

FAM vaccines had to be flown in from neighboring Argentina and Brazil since the country's labs have long ceased production.

Massive culls have also been criticized by farmers and some officials who point to the fact that "Uruguay is not a rich country, like England; even if we eventually eliminate FAM with the sanitary rifle, probably we will then be also a country free of cattle".

Since the end of April FAM outbreaks reported in Soriano and Colonia, Uruguayan authorities have killed almost 7.000 cattle. In some areas farmers reacted barricading highways and access roads.

Uruguayan legislators have called on Argentina to compensate Uruguay for the FAM crisis, which is the result of their neighbors poor management of local outbreaks. Argentina has denied responsibility.