WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/109
2 February 1999
(99-0379)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  Spanish
FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE 1998
Communication from Argentina
The following communication was received from the Republic of Argentina on
25 January 1999.
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Having confirmed the absence of viral activity in the course of serological sampling in 1997
using the VIAA test as a filter, rechecking the posit ive results with EITB and utilizing probang and
PCR for the animals that were EITB positive, Argentina's status as a foot-and-mouth disease-free
country with vaccination has not changed.  Of a total of 65,000 samples taken, 119 were EITB
positive and produced negative results to probang and PCR.
In May and June 1998, testing was carried out in the province of Chaco (emergency zone
following flooding).  Samples were taken from 1,600 animals (sheep and goats not vaccinated and
young bovine animals having received a first vaccination), and all were negative.
During the general testing in 1998, 5,894 samples from sheep and goats were tested, all of
which were negative;  12,094 bovine animals were tested and only 18 were EITB positive
(vaccination), reconfirming that there was no viral activity in Argentina.
In addition, the National Epidemiological Monitoring System continues;  there were 309
notifications and suspected cases in 1997 and 204 in 1998.
For the foregoing reasons, Argentina still main tains the same health requirement confirmed at
the 65th Session of the OIE and in National Executive Decree No. 1324/98, replacing Article 4 of
Annex 1 to Decree No. 643 of 19 June 1996, namely , a ban on foot-and-mouth disease vaccination in
the whole of Argentina from 30 April 1999 for all susceptible species as well as the entry of
vaccinated animals into Argentina.  SENASA is given the following powers:
- To carry out strategic vaccination if the disease reoccurs, in accordance with
international rules;
- to monitor the international and inter-jurisdictional transit of all products and by-
products of animal origin;
- to take the necessary measures regarding any objects that might transport the virus of
foot-and-mouth disease.
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