Quito, 8 sep (EFE).-the Governments of Ecuador and Peru will strengthen cooperation in the fight against the foot and mouth disease, which affects cattle, in the common border area reported today the Executive Director of the Agency of the Ecuadorian agricultural health (Agrocalidad), MarÃa Isabel Jiménez.
Both Governments undertook to make progress in the implementation of a plan of bilateral action against the bovine disease, which was assessed at a meeting between health authorities of both parties made this week in the Ecuadorian city of Machala, drew Jiménez Efe.
In this event, added the Director, also attended by representatives of the Pan American Center for foot and mouth (Panaftosa), the Pan American Health Organization and the Office in Quito of the United Nations Organization and Agriculture (FAO).
Jimenez stressed the collaboration of the national service for agricultural health (Senasa) of Peru, whose director, Oscar Dominguez, reported that his country is very close to eradicate this disease in its territory.
He also explained that the commitments include the elaboration of studies cadastre of real estate assets where there are herds of cattle in the border area of the two countries, as well as continue with vaccination programmes and improve procedures for immunization.
Jiménez highlighted the plans of education and training to farmers in border and other joint actions to isolate the virus in the event that appear cases of the disease.
He also said that Panaftosa and Ecuador of the FAO Office committed to finding funding to strengthen and accelerate the plan of action in Ecuador.
The Ecuadorian authority pointed out that next December shall be another meeting to evaluate the progress of the actions agreed between the two parties.
On the other hand, Jiménez pointed out that in the case of Ecuador, pace move forward joint strategies with Peru in the common border will also be itself in the area bordering with Colombia.
In the coming weeks, said meetings with the Colombian health authorities should be made, in order to strengthen actions joint against the foot-and-on the border.
Ecuador also runs a national programme against the disease, a disease endemic in this country, he said Jimenez.
FMD is an infectious disease that causes damage to livestock, which represents a problem in some countries of Latin America.
The foot and mouth disease is an infectious disease that causes damage to livestock, which represents a serious problem in some countries of Latin America. EFE/file
