FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN URUGUAY
See also: 27 April 2001, 26 January 2001, 5 January 2001, 22 December 2000, 1 December 2000, 24 November 2000, 17 November 2000, 10 November 2000, 3 November 2000, 27 October 2000
(Date of last previously reported outbreak: October 2000).
Emergency report
Translation of an e-mail received on 25 April 2001 from Dr Carlos A. Correa Messuti, Ministry of Animal Production, Agriculture and Fisheries, Montevideo:
Report date: 25 April 2001.
A report concerning animals presenting signs of foot and mouth disease (FMD) was submitted to the Local Official Veterinary Services of the Department of Soriano.
Outbreaks:
Location No. of outbreaks 6th Administrative Division, Palmitas District, of the Department of Soriano (in the western part of the country)
2 farms
Description of affected population: the susceptible animal population of the index farm (No. 1) is 430 cattle and 640 sheep. Thirty-nine bovines aged from 1 to 2 years showed signs suggestive of FMD, whereas no signs were observed in the sheep. The animal population of farm No. 2 (adjoining the index farm) is 773 cattle, 474 sheep and 10 pigs.
Total number of animals in the outbreaks:
species susceptible cases deaths destroyed slaughtered bov 1,203 ... ... ... ... ovi 1,114 ... ... ... ... sui 10 ... ... ... ...
Diagnosis:
On 23 April 2001, an inspection was carried out in farm No. 1 and material was sent to the official laboratory for diagnosis.
The preliminary results indicate that the VIAA(1) tests were positive for the samples from the cattle, whereas the samples from the sheep tested negative. The serological test used (ELISA) identified a high level of antibodies to virus type A.
Material is being sent today (25 April) to the Pan American Foot and Mouth Disease Centre (PANAFTOSA) in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) for further testing. The results are awaited.
An epidemiological investigation is also being carried out and samples are being taken from farm No. 2 for dispatch to the official laboratory.
Control measures:
The 6th Administrative Division was under a ban on the movement of livestock as from 10 April 2001, in line with the alert measures being implemented to deal with the animal health emergency situation in Argentina.
To deal with the strong suspicion of an FMD occurrence, the Official Veterinary Services have laid down measures for containment and immediate eradication in accordance with the procedures established in current legislation. This includes the slaughter of all susceptible animals from both affected farms.
Additional measures taken include the following:
1. Ban as from today on the movement and transfer of animals susceptible to FMD virus, animal products and by-products to destinations outside the Department of Soriano, unless expressly authorised in writing by the authority of the competent Animal Health Division.
2. Temporary ban on the movement and transfer of animals susceptible to FMD virus throughout the national territory, with the exception of animals being transferred for immediate slaughter, with prior authorisation from the local health authority but without prejudice to inspection measures already provided for and in force in all departments situated along the River Uruguay.
3. Ban on the transfer of rations, forage and grain for animal feed to destinations outside the Department of Soriano, unless expressly authorised in writing by the authority of the competent Animal Health Division.
4. As a precautionary measure, as from today the issuing of Health Certificates for Export has been suspended.
(1) VIAA: virus infection associated antigen.
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FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN URUGUAY
Follow-up report No. 1
See also: 27 April 2001, 26 January 2001, 5 January 2001, 22 December 2000, 1 December 2000, 24 November 2000, 17 November 2000, 10 November 2000, 3 November 2000, 27 October 2000
Translation of an e-mail received on 26 April 2001 from Dr Carlos A. Correa Messuti, Ministry of Animal Production, Agriculture and Fisheries, Montevideo:
Report date: 26 April 2001.
The outbreak in farm No. 2, adjacent to outbreak No. 1 notified on 25 April 2001 (see Disease Information, 14 [17], 96, dated 27 April 2001, above), has been confirmed clinically, epidemiologically and by laboratory tests.
New outbreaks:
Location No. of outbreaks 6th Administrative Division, Santa Catalina District, of the Department of Soriano
2 farms
Total number of outbreaks to date: 4.
Description of affected population in the new outbreaks: the animal population in farm No. 3 is 1,925 bovines in total, of which 391 are under 1 year of age, 490 are between 1 and 2 years of age and 1,044 are older than 2 years. Twenty bovines of under 2 years of age were found to be clinically affected. The animal population in farm No. 4 is: 765 cattle and 750 sheep, with 35 bovines affected.
Total number of animals in the new outbreaks:
species susceptible cases deaths destroyed slaughtered bov 2,690 55 ... ... ... ovi 750 0 ... ... ...
Diagnosis: when an investigation was made of the establishments adjacent to farm No. 3, another farm (No. 4) was found to be affected. Material from both establishments was sent to the official laboratory.
Control measures: the measures mentioned in the previous report continue to be applied. Stamping out in the two outbreaks notified on 25 April 2001 began today, with a total of 350 cattle and 30 sheep having been destroyed up to 10 am today.
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