Disease Information

11 May 2001
Vol. 14 - No. 19

FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE IN URUGUAY
Follow-up report No. 3

See also: 4 May 2001, 27 April 2001, 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 10 May 2001 from Dr Carlos A. Correa Messuti, Ministry of Animal Production, Agriculture and Fisheries, Montevideo:

End of previous report period: 3 May 2001 (see Disease Information, 14 [18], 104, dated 4 May 2001).

End of this report period: 9 May 2001.

Two hundred and forty-seven new outbreaks of foot and mouth disease (FMD) have been confirmed.

Location of the outbreaks (see Map 1):

Department	No. of new outbreaks (3-9 May 2001)	Total no. of outbreaks (23 April - 9 May 2001)
Artigas	5	6
Canelones	4	6
Cerro Largo	2	2
Colonia	55	94
Durazno	11	13
Flores	17	19
Florida	5	7
Lavalleja	1	1
Paysandú	12	15
Río Negro	25	36
Rivera	2	3
Rocha	7	7
Salto	11	12
San José	5	11
Soriano	73	103
Tacuarembó	10	10
Treinta y Tres	2	3
Total	247	348

Description of affected population in the outbreaks registered from 3 to 9 May 2001: the overall attack rate is 1.1% in cattle. There have been no cases of the disease in sheep or pigs.

Total number of animals in the outbreaks registered from 3 to 9 May 2001:

species	susceptible	cases	deaths	destroyed	slaughtered
bov	245,456	2,689	...	...	...
ovi	174,064	0	0	...	...
sui	875	0	0	...	...

Diagnosis:

A. Laboratory where diagnosis was made: characterisation of the antigen was carried out by the PANAFTOSA⁽¹⁾ laboratory.

B. Diagnostic tests used: complement fixation test (CF 50%) and polyclonal sera.

Map 1

Map 2

C. Causal agent: close similarity to FMD virus subtype A₂₄. In order to complete the investigations into the agent, samples are being sent to the OIE World Reference Laboratory for foot and mouth disease (Pirbright, United Kingdom) and the laboratory of Plum Island (United States of America).

Control measures during reporting period:

- As from 8 May 2001, the movement of non vaccinated susceptible animals for immediate slaughter has been authorised in cases of strict necessity, to meet exceptional local consumption requirements in some departments.

- The definitive data for animals destroyed as a result of implementation of the stamping-out policy up to 30 May 2001 (when this measure was suspended) are as follows: 5,088 bovines, 1,511 sheep and 333 pigs. Fomites (contaminated objects, etc.) were also destroyed. Compensation totalling 1,844,144 USD has been paid.

- The vaccination strategy around the outbreaks and in dairy cattle is continuing. Mass vaccination of cattle in the administrative districts (secciones policiales) bordering Brazil has been initiated; mass primary vaccination is carried out according to the vaccination programme (see Map 2).

- Strict measures for the control of outbreaks, disinfection and confinement are being maintained.

(1) PANAFTOSA: Pan American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Center, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

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