MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Scab in Argentine Patagonia.

A small farm in Santa Cruz province, Argentine Patagonia, where an only outbreak, so far, of scab was reported has Chilean sanitary officials and sheep farmers on full alert given the close links with Magallanes Region, reports La Prensa Austral from Punta Arenas.

Rio Gallegos Rural Society vicepresident Roberto Arbilla currently in Punta Arenas for the annual Magallanes farm show confirmed the news adding that Argentine sanitary officials have quarantined the farm and are looking for the causes and possible contagion.

"I believe this week a sanitary check of all farms in the area will have been completed and this will help us determine several questions regarding the scab case", said Mr. Arbilla who underlined it was an "only and small outbreak".

Mr. Arbilla acknowledged that strict sanitary regulations must be in place because "if we fail we'll all loose".

Carlos Rowland head of the regional Magallanes Agriculture and Livestock Sanitary Office indicated that given current information "it can be implied that scab has already spread to Argentine farms close to neighboring areas in Monte Aymond and Brazo Norte" in Chilean Patagonia.

Chilean sanitary officials are currently in Santa Cruz province working with Argentine counterparts in the assessment of the extent of the highly contagious infection.