Brasília - In order to continue being the world's biggest beef exporter Brazil has to maintain the quality of its vast cattle herds. Foot and mouth disease is a direct threat to the quality of Brazilian beef and so the government is working to eradicate it once and for all by the year 2005.

At the moment, 15 Brazilian states (out of 27), where 84% of the country's 191 million are located, are considered free of foot and mouth disease with vaccination. Brazil is a leader in
South America in the effort to eliminate the disease and has extended its vigilance to areas beyond its borders. Over the last two years, Brazil has donated 3 million vaccines to Paraguay and Bolivia as part of an effort to create a security zone in South America.

However, the fact that vaccination is necessary to control the disease requires the cooperation of cattle ranchers. According to Newton Moraes, at the Department of Inspection at the Ministry of Agriculture, people who have cows must understand that even animals for private use have to be vaccinated because the disease is highly contagious. He points out that the vaccine is easy to buy and easy to use. "The farmer himself can do it," he says.

The Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture has laboratories throughout the country to control the disease and oversee the transportation of cattle.

Agência Brasil
Reporter: Rosamélia Abreu
Translator: Allen Bennett
08/20/2004