MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Paraguay confirmed as free of FMD with vaccination

OIE decision boosts Mercosur cattle and beef industry

Paraguay, Colombia and Bolivia have been confirmed to the list of countries declared free of foot and mouth disease with vaccination at the current World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) 77th session in Paris.

This latest decision confirms that all Mercosur country members (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay) are free of FMD with vaccination.

Mercosur member Paraguay was also confirmed as a country with insignificant Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis, BSE or mad cow, risk. Only eleven countries in the world have made it to this exclusive list: Argentina, Australia, Chile, Finland, Iceland, New Zealand, Norway, Paraguay, Singapore, Sweden and Uruguay.

The news is a great boost for the Paraguayan beef industries, one of the main export items of the landlocked country.

Following FMD outbreaks in neighbouring countries, Paraguay implemented a High Vigilance Zone, (ZAV) a 15 kilometres wide strip along its borders with Argentina, Brazil and Bolivia, together with an aggressive and strict vaccination campaign, which has been rated as successful.

However the ZAV is not recognized as an area free of FMD by the OIE.

Paraguay next June 24/26 will also be hosting a three day OIE/FAO conference on FMD which will be convening the world experts on the hoofed animals’ disease.

The current situation of FMD in the world will be assessed with specific reference to international, regional and national efforts that are applied to control FMD. The updated control methods of the disease, status of research on FMD, the application of disease surveillance methodologies; the application of and development of vaccines and the use, constraints and availability of diagnostic methods in susceptible species will all be assessed and evaluated against future needs and constraints.

All these aspects will be presented by a selection of internationally recognised experts and debated by heads of veterinary services, veterinarians, scientists, researchers and trade representatives from countries all over the world.

OIE and FAO acknowledge the financial contribution and support by the Servicio Nacional de Calidad y Salud Animal (SENACSA) of Paraguay, the Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento of Brazil and the European Commission to make the FMD conference possible.