More cases of FMD confirmed in Brazil

BRAZIL - Ten new cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) have been confirmed in cattle in Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul state. Since the outbreak was first discovered in early October total cases of the disease now stand at 21 in the country, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

The new cases were in Japora, south of Eldorado and closer to the border of Paraguay. They are within a 25-kilometer exclusion zone west of the Parana River. The zone was created to prevent spread of the disease after the Eldorado outbreak.

Brazil's herd, estimated at 190 million cattle, is the largest commercial herd in the world. The South American nation was the world's largest exporter of beef in 2004, with exports valued at $2.5 billion.

Source: agriculture.com

8 November 2005