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29-Jun-01
Regional efforts: the only way to eradicate FMD Ana Maria Sadir, a specialist from the Veterinarian and Agronomical Sciences Center of Argentine
agricultural organization INTA Castelar, referred to the need for common regional projects in order to face the FMD (Foot and Mouth Disease) virus in South America.Designing an effective strategy for controlling the reappearance of the disease requires a sum of efforts and knowledge. In this context, the opinion and experience
of the main local institutions have invaluable importance. Sadir is one of the specialists of INTA Castelar, well known for her work on FMD. She referred to this problem during a recent seminar titled "Meat:
Commercialization and Health", organized by the Argentine National Institute of Agricultural Technology (INTA), the Argentine Enterprise University (UADE) and the Argentine Association of Food Technicians (AATA). For
Sadir, the battle against FMD is still going on, and in that sense she considered that, "Although we had a period of important advances, we have been making mistakes in this battle against FMD for over 100 years. I am
convinced we will have to repeat several steps to regain the status of a country free of FMD, first with vaccination and then without it," and then added, "The FMD virus is very difficult to handle and to contain, and
the urgency of politicians is not allowing efficient scientific work." The specialist pointed out that regional control programs are very important for avoiding, in the future, situations like the ones Argentine
producers are living today. She reminded listeners of the existence of a plan created some time ago called "Cuenca del Plata", which contemplates the participation of every country belonging to this river basin. "After
this, Argentina installed its plan of control and eradication and developed it all by itself. In a few days, on July 12th, a meeting will be held in Foz de Iguazu, Brazil with every country that belongs to
the Cuenca del Plata, in order to exclusively discuss FMD and wage a common battle," pointed out Sadir. For the investigator, this regional battle is already "on the right track" and judged it may become reality
"because all the governments understand, and we must insist with this, that it will be the only way to eradicate the disease on a regional level." There are exceptional cases. Chile counts with a natural barrier, the
Andes, which allows certain isolation, but border control is a difficult point for other countries such as Argentina. Argentina shares over 2,500 kms. of border with other countries affected by this disease. However,
when facing a common plan, the main question is if the enemy is also common. There are 7 different types of FMD virus, and over 65 subtypes of the disease. Sadir eliminated doubts assuring that the variety of types
affecting the cattle of these countries is not very different. "They are the same type of virus, there are small differences in the subtypes but not very important. In general, considering it is a very contagious virus,
it is the same in all the region." According to the specialist of INTA Castelar, "The presence of the disease in bordering countries, added to intense international traffic, makes the risk of transporting the virus in
animals by foot, or through sub-products or contaminated materials, extremely high. This implicates that the battle against the disease is not over and that new strategies must be developed in order to guarantee a solid
system of prevention for sustaining the Argentine health status as a country free of FMD without vaccination," she assured. When evaluating the conditions that Argentina must face for eradicating the virus, Sadir
didn't doubt in considering the situation as "much more critical" and reminded that, "In 1990 we were very well organized for beginning the control. We must not forget that there were 8 laboratories producing vaccines
as well as the Coprosa units, where producers, veterinarians, Argentine Health organization Senasa and INTA would work together. There was an important level of national organization. Now, we must recreate everything
that has been dissolved, and I believe this is a very difficult situation." E-campo.com
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