(Date of previous outbreak of foot and mouth disease in Argentina reported to the OIE: January 2002).

Emergency report

Translation of information received on 4 September 2003 from Dr Jorge Nestor Amaya, President, National Agrifood Health and Quality Service (SENASA), Secretariat for Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food, Buenos Aires:

Report date: 4 September 2003.

Nature of diagnosis: clinical.

Date of initial detection of animal health incident: 28 August 2003.

Location: San Martín department, Salta province.

Description of suspect animals: various categories of pigs, showing signs of malnutrition, lameness and limb lesions.

Total number of animals:

Diagnosis:

A. Laboratory where diagnosis is being carried out: Central Laboratory of SENASA.

B. Diagnostic tests:

- VIAA (detection of antibodies to structural and non structural proteins of FMD virus);

- typing ELISA;

- virus isolation.

Epidemiology:

A. Source of agent / origin of infection: investigations are under way.

B. Mode of spread: investigations are under way.

C. Other epidemiological details:

- establishment located near a municipal abattoir, 10 km from the town of Tartagal and 40 km from the border with Bolivia.

- zone characterised by its low livestock density, mainly with subsistence producers, and no production link with other regions.

Control measures:

- quarantine and movement control inside the country;

- screening;

- vaccination;

- zoning.

(1) VIAA: virus infection associated antigen.

(2) ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Source: OFFICE INTERNATIONAL DES EPIZOOTIES - 5th September 2003