Brazil steps up foot and mouth prevention efforts

BRASILIA, Brazil (CNN) -- The Brazilian Agriculture Ministry has strengthened vigilance at the borders with the country's partners in the South American common market after confirmed reports of foot-and-mouth disease in Argentina.

There are 25 confirmed cases of ill animals in Argentina and another 28 animals are suspected of having the disease. Alfredo Bigatti, head of Argentina's national service for health and agricultural food quality, said Tuesday that the government had ruled out any animal slaughter and decided to promote mass immunization.

Brazilian federal authorities are particularly worried about the situation in Uruguaiana, a city located in southern Rio Grande do Sul state, which borders Argentina and Uruguay. As part of the preventive measures in Uruguaiana, authorities on Wednesday installed an iodine footbath in the city's airport to disinfect the shoes of travelers arriving from Argentina.

The same protective system has been used in all Brazilian international airports since last week. The Brasilia airport, in the federal capital on Wednesday was the last one to receive the iodine footbaths. Every passenger arriving from European and South American countries is required to sanitize the soles of their shoes.

In Rio de Janeiro and Santos, both coastal cities in the southeast, the footbath is being used at seaports.

Police in Rio Grande do Sul began surveillance operations along riverbanks in an effort to prevent the animal trafficking between Brazil and Uruguay.

The Agriculture Ministry says Brazil has the biggest commercial livestock herd of the world, with 160 million animals.

CNN.com.br correspondent Paula Guttler and Reuters contributed to this report.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease
European Union
Dutch Ministry of Agriculture
UK Ministry of Agriculture

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.