MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Vaccination in Uruguay

After having reported foot and mouth cases in 16 of the country's 19 counties, Uruguayan authorities finally decided that the only solution was to vaccinate the 12 million cattle stock, even if it means a set back for its international sanitary status

Certified free of foot and mouth disease since 1995, and with access to all world markets, when the disease was first reported last year in Argentina, Uruguay adopted drastic measures ordering the Army and Coast Guard to support the Ministry of Agriculture sanitary teams sent to all border crossings and points of access to the country. The normal Customs and Immigration officials were also reinforced and long queues of visitors and vehicles could be seen in bridge crossings, ports and airports. When a first outbreak was reported among hogs in the north of the country, next to Brazil and originated in that country, the whole county affected was cut off by Army patrols and over 25.000 cattle, sheep and hogs were destroyed with the sanitary rifle. However when the Soriano outbreak was confirmed last April, just across from Argentina, and in spite of all the measures taken, the disease rapidly spread. Apparently this time the outbreak was not immediately reported, and a significant influx of Argentine tourists in coincidence with Easter holidays and a spell of good weather with mild winds that could have brought the virus from Entre Ríos, conspired against Uruguay's sanitary condition. Besides, a cattle auction took place next to the area where the outbreak was reported meaning many animals that could have been in contact with the virus were been distributed along the country. In less than three weeks 190 cases were reported although most of them concentrated in Soriano, Colonia and Rio Negro, three counties with intensive farming and only separated from Argentina by a wide river. The virus strain identified is the same as the one reported in Argentina. An effort to regionalize vaccination with Brazilian support failed and some cases have now been reported in Rio Grade do Sul, southern Brazil. This week Uruguayan president Jorge Batlle is expected to announce a 100 million US dollars aid package for farmers and the meat industry, (which has sent 5.500 workers to unemployment insurance), since all cattle movement and slaughtering has been banned. Farmers tax, credit and mortgage payments will be delayed, fresh money for re stocking will be available and the vaccination bill will be paid b