Venezuela Confirms Foot-And-Mouth The Associated Press

Wednesday, June 13, 2001; 5:24 p.m. EDT

CARACAS, Venezuela –– Officials quarantined a ranch in western Venezuela after confirming 240 head of cattle were infected with foot-and-mouth disease, an official said Wednesday.

Government laboratory tests confirmed the infections at the 1,300-head private ranch in the town of Panamericana in Tachira state, said Manuel Cipriano of the National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Eradication Commission.

All animals at the ranch and at neighboring ranches will be vaccinated, Cipriano said. He also said a small outbreak in the southwestern state of Apure had been contained.

Venezuela has been vaccinating animals nationwide since outbreaks occurred in Europe and elsewhere in South America.

Foot-and-mouth disease affects cloven-hoofed animals such as sheep, pigs and cows. It is highly contagious and reduces the production of milk and meat, but is not dangerous to humans. Farmers often slaughter animals to keep it from spreading, but Cipriano said no slaughter was being considered in the Tachira cases.

Venezuela's cattle industry generates $797 million a year, according to the National Cattlemen's Association.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/aponline/20010613/aponline172404_000.htm

-- Martin Thompson (mthom1927@aol.com), June 14, 2001