MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Venezuelan FAM extends to neighboring Colombia

Colombia declared a sanitary emergency in an area bordering with Venezuela where an outbreak of foot and mouth disease was confirmed by the country's Agriculture authorities, ICA.

Farmers in the region have been requested to notify any suspicious cases while all livestock movement in the area has been banned and human and vehicle circulation restricted. "With the purpose of guaranteeing the quick implementation of the required measures to eradicate the FAM outbreak registered in Cucuta, ICA has declared a sanitary emergency in this region", says the official release. The outbreak was first reported at the beginning of the month and is the first since 2004. Colombia has been involved in a full fledged task to eradicate FAM from all its territory to obtain the much desired free of the disease certification, which is extended by the Paris based OIE. Free of FAM certification will help increase Colombian beef global export opportunities. Colombian Agriculture authorities have requested collaboration from the National Police and the Taxing and Customs Office to reinforce vigilance along the border, thus preventing the illegal traffic of livestock with Venezuela, where the disease is endemic. Genaro Mendez, president of the Venezuelan Federation of Livestock farmers confirmed at least fourteen FAM outbreaks in the western states of the country and has asked Venezuelan animal health officials to provide greater numbers of vaccines.