O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance

d) Veterinarians in Private Practice: The participation of veterinarians in private practice in the Surveillance System considerably increases the number of qualified sources of information. Thereare over 6,000 veterinarians working in rural areas that can report any emergency situation in their area. Different official programs incorporate these professionals by specific accreditations to cany out sanitary actions.

e) Information from Neighbou(ng Countries: See item II. 1 A.1 FMD Prevention Section-Regional Coordination.

Active Epidemio-5urveillanceActive surveillance enables a continuous control of production systems, movements of susceptible animals, and imports. Inspection and monitoring activities provide information on the health status of the animal population and enable an early detection of viral activity and/or diseases with FMD-like symptoms.Information on the disease may be collected with serum surveys and other epidemiological indicators. Active Epidemio-Surveillance includes serosurveys and: a) Clinical inspection of cattle in the field: Shipments of animals and livestock concentration markets. Current SENASA Resolutions N° 104/2001, 115/2002 and 15/2003, require a clinical inspection of herds at the time of shipment to concentration markets (auctions and trade shows) and to slaughter for export. These inspections are performed by private veterinarians approved and trained by SENASA. Additionally, when the animals arrive at the concentration markets, official staff again inspects a percentage of the animals in the herd. On an annual basis, SENASA inspects a total of 7,679 auction and livestock concentration markets.

b) Serotogical surveys SeE' A 2 SCrologii,ai sisiveiiian CeO.I. E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance

### At a farm level, SENASA actively participates overseeing the bleeding of animals for brucellosis tests, tuberculosis tests, approving establishments for export to the European Union, performing quarantine controls, inspecting imported breeding animals, performing pre-export activities and others required prior to moving animals from tick infected areas to tick free areas, etc.


### d) Inspections by Agents Authorised by SENASA. The participation of officially authorized agents in the Epidemio-Surveillance

### System increases the number of susceptible animals that are inspected. Vaccinators inspect all farms and all bovines twice a year in the region where vaccination is applied.
e) Clinical inspection at Slaughter Plants: At the slaughter plants, an ante-mortem inspection of the animals in the holding 

### corrals, is required. After slaughter, the mammary glands, lips, hoofs, muzzle and tongue of the slaughtered animals, are inspected. SENASA approved 

### slaughter plants are 208 and the number of slaughtered animals during 2003 is approximately 12,000,000. This means that almost 24% of the FMD susceptible population in the country, is inspected at the slaughter plants.

f) National Register of Farmers (RENSPA).Resolution N° 417/97 issued by the Secretariat of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisher### ies and Food, establishes the National Register of Farmers (RENSPA) and requires mandatory, annual registration of all farmers throughout the country, re

### gardless of whether they own the land on which they keep their animals. The information provided at the time of registration is legally binding. Registration must be performed at the Local SENASA Offices. The collected

### information provides data on the total number of farms, their geographic location, the number of animals, and the physical and productive characteristics of
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. ,O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance dated twice a year with the data collected at the time of vaccination (Resolution 5/2001.Some data (annual average) about active epidemio-surveillance (clinical inspection) carried out by SENASA staff in the field are detailed as follows: Statistical data of the Republic of Argentina 

### Source: Monthly Statistical Report. Epidemiology Office 

## SENASA Detailed as annual values, average of the last three years

~ Vadable descdption Annual value ~ Number of Dispatchs to Slaughter for Export to the European Union 66.000 Number of Bovines Dispatched to the EU 2.000.000 Number of Auctions and Trade Shows Performed 6.000 

### Total Number of Bovines Introduced to Auction and Trade Shows 3.500.000 Total Number of Sheep Introduced to Auction and Trade Shows 30.000 Total Number of Pigs Introduced to Auction and Trade Shows 30.000 Total Number of bovines to the Liniers Market 2.100.000 Number of Transit Controls Performed 2.800 Total Number of Records Performed at Transit Controls 700 Number of Establishments Inspected by Bovine Scabies 35.000 Number of Bovines Inspected at these establishments 4.500.000 Number of Establishments Inspected by Sheep Scabies 20.000 Number of Sheep Inspected at these establishments 2.300.000 Tick Controls Dispatched Herds 26.000 Tick Controls Dispatched Bovines 1.300.000 Involved animals 15.760.000 

### DATA FROM NORTHERN A PATAGONIA BARRIER (2003): Inspected fivestock vehicles: 9278


### A. FMD FREE ZONE A.1. DiagnosisA.1.1. Clinical Diagnosis (Notification and Investigation Procedures, updated figures) 

### Within the framework of the current situation, SENASA opened the Register of Notifications and Suspect Cases of Vesicular and Non-Vesicular Diseases with FMD-like Symptoms. T his Register serves as an indicator of the sensitivity and effectiveness of the passive epidemio-surveillance actions. 

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~ .,0.1. E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance 

### porting of confirmed or suspect cases of FMD is mandatory (Law N° 24,305, Art. 9). The Epidemio-Surveillance System requires immediate reporting of drooling 

### and/or lameness symptoms to the Local SENASA Veterinarian (Resolution N° 383/01). When the Local Veterinarian receives a report, he records it on an ad-hoc form 

### and immediately visits the affected holding. The outcome of the visit will be one of two situations: a) The official clinically determines it is not FMD based on a clear diagnosis 

### of the symptoms. This situation is referred to as a notification. In this case, the veterinarian must complete and remit the Protocol to SENASA"s Epidemiology Office.

### The clinical inspection and assessment of other epidemiological indicators determine it is not FMD or another vesicular disease and indicate a suspect case of FMD. In response, the veterinarian must take sanitary measures in the area and report the situation, as described in the Procedures Manual. In both cases, a final diagnosis based on differential diagnostic tests is required 

### to rule out the presence of FMD and other exotic diseases.The Table included below lists the differential diagnosis corresponding to notifications and suspect cases reported in 2003.


### Table: Diagnosis and number of notifications and suspect cases reported in 2003. Diagnosis
~ 

### Cases



### TRAUMATIC LESIONS 112 FOOT ROOT 112 

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## ANTHRAX 2 DVB 2 CONTAGIOUS ECTHYMA 2 FESTUCOSIS 2 OTHER 13 Total n° of cases 72
Table: Diagnosis and number of notifications and suspect cases reported in 2004 (up to 30/09/2004). Diagnosis Cases

TRAUMATIC LESIONS 9 ACTINOBACILLOSIS 4 POISONING 7 FEED STOMATITIS 1 TEETHING 1 GLOSSITIS 1 IBR 2 FOOT ROOT 8 PARASITOSIS 3 

### OTHER 6 Total n° of cases 42


### A.1.2. Laboratory (Procedures, figures with the results of the tests)SENASA"s Official Laboratory is the only laboratory authorized to perform diag### nostic testing of samples of suspect cases of FMD. This laboratory has Biosafefiy Level 3 Agriculture facilities (NBS3A).

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### Liquid Phase ELISA: to detect and count structural antibodies and control the efficacy of the FMD vaccine and for monitoring of population immunity.Carriers (Probang Test): determination in a sample of oesophagealpharyngeal fluid (presence of FMDV by isolation). 

### VIAA-AGID: to detect anti-VIAA antibodies in serum of susceptible species with the agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID). 3 ABC ELISA: to identify and count antibodies against non-structural proteins of 

### the FMDV. EITB: enzyme-linked immunoelectrotransfer blot to detect antibodies against 

### nonstructural proteins of FMDV (confirmation test). The Laboratories and Technica

### ► Control Office (DILACOT) technicians receive training at, and exchange information with the Pan American Foot and Mouth 

### Disease Centre (PAHO) that provides technique and technology transfer and supplies reagent standards. 

### The laboratories of the Animal Virology Centre (CEVAN) and the INTA, that work together with the Official Laboratory, have biotechnology capabilities to characterize antigens with monoclonal antibodies, sequencing, and PCR. Additionally, the Official Laboratory receives recommendations and training from the National Farm Research Institute of Spain (INIA) and has signedTechnical Cooperation Agreements and a Research Contract with the Intema

### tional Atomic Energy Agency (FAO - IAEA).The SENASA laboratory uses the following techniques for the diagnosis of diseases with vesicular disease-like symptoms: • IBR: ELISA. • DVB: ELISA. • Vesicular Stomatitis: ELISA Typing and ELISA to identify antibodies. • Blue Tongue: Agar gel immunodiffusion and ELISA.


### A.2. Serological Surveillance lNithin the active surveillance actions, SENASA annually implements serological survevs wltfl tne goal of deteC'.(11lg tilrai aCtivity i,ounii y"•..v i de aeten??file r7CSOii

### latior. immunitv against F oot and fVrioutn visedse i
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### an .rw.,,O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillanceIn general, the country is divided into zones with defined productive, geographical and political characteristics and taking into account the FMD behavior in thecountry to design the serological surveys. Therefore, different disease suppositions are applied to each zone. Predominant species are the species sampled in each region. In the areas 

### where vaccination is practiced (north of Rio Negro and Neuquen) only bovinesare sampled, while in the areas where vaccination is not practiced (South Patagonia and Northern B Patagonia) only sheep are sampled. The survey for viral activity in bovines has two categories: From 6 to 12 months of age From 12 to 24 months of age 

### In the case of population immunity conferred by vaccination, a third category is added: older than 24 months of age. 

### In the case of sheep (only viral activity) neither category nor age are taken into account. The laboratory tests used are different according to the species, namely:


### For detection of viral activity: . Bovines: ELISA 3ABC (screening) — EITB (confirmation test), to detect 

### antibodies to non-structural proteins of the Foot and Mouth virus (FMDV). . Sheep: ELISA in liquid phase, to detect antibodies to structural proteins 

### of the FMDV.
For population immunity surveys:• Bovines: ELISA in liquid phase (detection of antibodies to structural pro

### teins of the FMDV) for virus types A 2001 and 01 Campos.The design of the serological surveys is performed at a central level (Epidemiology Office), according to the guidelines established by the Annex 3.8.7. of the 

### O.I.E's Animal Health Code. Sample collection is carried out by the SENASA
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### veterinarians., and they are processed at the Animal Laboratory of the 1aboiatorle5 and Technical l;ontroi ti`r

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a O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance Every establishment vvith at least one positive animal to the confirmation tests is 

### subjected to additional investigations with the purpose of confirming or ruling out the result. These investigations include: • Additional visit to the premise, vvith clinical inspection of a representative 

### number of susceptible animals and questioning to the owner; • Study of animal movements during the last year; • Additional serological survey.


### A document with the information on the serological sampling to prove absence of viral spread is added (SEE ANNEX 1) for the request of restitution of the status of "FMD Free Zone where vaccination is practiced".


### A.3. Demographics and Livestock EconomyThe Republic of Argentina is subdivided according to geographic, climatic, productive conditions and other economic indicators, into five different agro-economic regions, as follows: the Pampas Region, including the provinces of Buenos Aires, Cordoba, Entre Rios, La Pampa and Santa Fe;the Northwest (NOA) Region, includ### ing the provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy, La Rioja, Salta, Santiago del Estero and Tucuman; the Northeast 

### (NEA) Region, including the provinces of Corrientes, Chaco, Formosa and Misiones; the Cuyo Region, including

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~-~ io Negro, C'hu but. Santa %rii7O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance 

### The Pampas Region, with its agroecological conditions and applied technology is the most developed of the livestock areas. The agro-regions have differential characteristics that can be described from different variabtes:Bovine population in the zone where vaccination is practiced is 55 million bovine heads, distributed in 260,000 livestock establishments. This stock is distributed as follows: 76.62% in the Pampas region; 14.40% in the NEA region; 4.10% in the NOA region; 3.04% in Cuyo and 1.84% in Patagonia. The sheep stock is 13 million heads and it is distributed as follows: 16,72% in the Pampas region; 17,23% in the NEA; 5,89% in the NOA, 0,47% in Cuyo and 59,69% in Patagonia. The goat stock is 2.3 million heads and it is distributed as follows: 5.87% in the 

### Pampas region; 13.12 % in the NEA; 29.61% in the NOA, 11.72% in Cuyo and 39.68% in Patagonia. The pig stock is 2.3 million heads and it is distributed as follows: 78.19% in the Pampas region; 9.99% in the NEA; 9.25% in the NOA, 1.24% in Cuyo and 1.06% in Patagonia. 

### In order to determine the technological level, the use of farming machinery is taken as an indicator: the Pampas region uses 68.96% of the total; the NEA uses 10.68%; the NOA uses 8.44%; Cuyo uses 8.64% and Patagonia uses 3.28%. 

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SENASA MSR: Monthly Statistical ReportO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance

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fO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance The livestock establishments are classified according to the productive purpose 

## into: • Dairy establishments: located near urban areas; • Establishments for fattening or wintering, mainly in regions with better farming quality;• Cow-calf operations, generally located in regions with lower farming quality, where most of the calves are moved into fattening or wintering zones •"subsistencen operations or family-owned farms, characteristic of most of the marginal provinces in Argentina.


### The dairy activity is concentrated in 6 basins: center-west of Santa Fe, Northeast of Cordoba, center-south of Cordoba, the Parana area in the Province of 

### Entre Rios, in the Province of Buenos Aires, on the outskirts of the capital city, and the Hill and Sea basin (Tandil, Balcarce and Mar del Plata) in Buenos Aires and La Pampa.The fattening zone is the receiver of calves. It has the best ecological characteristics for bovine faftening and good farming quality. This zone includes four 

### provinces: northwest of Buenos Aires, south of Santa Fe, south of Cordoba and north of La Pampa and south of Entre Rios. The Pampas region concentrates 97.54% of the dairy plants in the country,63.06% of the breeding establishments and 92.96% of wintering establishments. The NEA region has 0.28% of the dairies; 19.33% of breeding establishments and 44.15% of "subsistence" operations. The NOA region has 1.90% of the dairies; 8.05% of breeding establishments and 34.85% of "subsistence" operations in the country. The Cuyo region has 0.12% of the dairies; 4.84% of breeding establishments and 4.66% of "subsistence" operations. The main activity in the zone is farming. 

### From the point of view of cattle trade, annual values of Auctions and Trade Sho,Ais anri the 

### issued documents for animal transit (DTA) are taken into acr_n«nt as indicators: the Parnpas region concentrates 94 43 0 /' , Of 'he auct;ons ?nd ?? 7(j O

, , ! , Of the iSSUe d DTA"s; the NEA reglon 1 54% anCi 15-8% respec-

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~ .,, .....u,._-O.i.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance 

### With regards to the average of the bovine herd, the establishments with 1 to100 bovines represent 36.19% with 5.5 million heads in the country; the establishments with 101 to 500 bovines represent 29.69% with 16.5 million heads; the establishments vvith 501 to 1000 bovines represent 13.16% with 11 million 

### heads and the establishments with more than 1000 bovines represent 20.97% with 22.2 million heads.



### Milk Production: Argentina's dairy sector enjoyed a healthy expansion between 1991 and 2001. During 2001 10,900 million litres of milk were produced. As from the economic

### crisis of 2001 and as a consequence of the expansion of soy crop, the productivity of the sector abruptly decreased. Afterwards, 8,529 million were produced in 2002, 7,951 million in 2003 and an expansion trend is observed in 2004.In 2003, consumption of dairy products per person and per annum was 190 litres (without considering butter). The predominant breeds are Holstein and, in a much smaller number, Jersey and others. Almost all the dairy population is under strict veterinary control as a 

### result of the milk control and milk quality programs promoted by the dairy plants to have high quatity milk fit for human consumption and the manufacture of dairy by-products.Argentina has 800 dairy plants. 120 plants are approved for export and distributed: 30% in the province of Buenos Aires, 30% in Ccirdoba, 30% in Santa Fe 

### and the remaining 10% in other provinces. AII the plants that process milk for export are approved and controlled by 

### SENASA.

Beef Production:Domestic consumption is approximately 63 Kg. per capita/year, and has declined in recent years

### With reaards to exports it is important to highlight the volume exported, in ton.^~n~ nnn w...-1 ~ -IpOS2 £6Q i

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~~ ~„ n 1999, 2fj6,n001n 1uUU, 13:S,UUU in 2UUl, 25!',UVU Ul 2Uiit, :iva,vvv ii, 2vv:
~. ~O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance Argentina lost all markets with the re-entry of FMD and, with the improvement of the cattle"s health status, the situation gradually improved. Bovine meat exports showed a certain recovery until September, 2003, when some markets, like Chile, closed imports of fresh meats from Argentina due to the presence of Foot and Mouth Disease in the province of Salta. When the 

### situation was over, exports continued growing. Markets opened for Argentina's bovine meat up to February 12, 2004 are the following: European Union (15 countries), Russian Federation, Switzerland, Slovenia,

### Norway, Bulgaria, Czech Rep., Albania, Kosovo, Poland, Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, Aruba, Curacao, (Dutch Antilles), Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Saint Marteen, Singapore (South of parallel 42), Thailand, 

### Hong-Kong, Vietnam, Egypt, Angola, Gabon, Dem. Rep. of Congo, People'sRep. of Congo, Qatar, Nigeria, Algeria, Oman, Kuwait, Morocco, Israel, Guadalupe Island, (French Antilles) Slovakia, Malaysia, Martinique, Reunion Island, Kenya, Colombia, Jordan, Macedonia, South Africa, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leona and Cuba.


### Other Farm Species Susceptible to Foot and Mouth Disease Sheep and Goats The FMD Free Zone where vaccination is practiced has a sheep stock of 4.171.097, and 23.881 goat heads (Monthly Statistics Report — SENASA — 2003 — provisional). 

### The sheep population has decreased significantly in the last twenty years: from 35 million in 1977 to 22.4 million in 1988, 19 million in 1996, and 13.4 in 2002 (source: SENASA - Monthly Statistics Report).The goat population decreased slightly until 1999, from 2,681,425 heads registered in in 1QQ7 , 9,433,376 in 1998. 2.328.948 heads in the first semester of 1999, and 2.820.000 in 2002.



### Pork Produ cLion

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~ ~ u:: :O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Dlsease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance • Uncertain production prices with ups and downs, strongly related to the bovine and grain price. • Competence with high yielding productions (soy in the north of Buenos Aires, south of Santa Fe and southeast of Cordoba). • Lack of simple and productive technology. • Badly planned intensive operations, copying European situations.• Import of half carcasses or cuts from neighbour countries (Brazil), favored by the current exchange.

Pig production is mainly located in the provinces of Cordoba, Buenos Aires and Santa Fe and it is used for domestic consumption. The exported volume is
scarce. Pig operations are divided into categories according to the type of production:breeding ranchs, wintering, commercial breeding and "subsistence" establishments. Pig producers usually belong to the last operation. Pig meat consumption is very low regarding bovine and avian meat, only 7.9 Kg/capita/year are consumed.More than 2 million pigs are slaughtered per year, representing a 0.3% of international market production. The main slaughter provinces are Buenos Aires (54%), Santa Fe (24%) and Cordoba (21%). Slaughter is divided into the following categories: 1. Capons ..72,6% 2. Piglets 20,8% 3. Sows 2,9% 4. Young pigs 1,8% 5. Boars. .. 0,8%

The establishments where this activity is pe iormed are classiFed according tothe complexity level of the tasks: from slaughter exclusively (cycle 1), only cutting i":;yc?e 21 t; lo complete cyc!e islaughter, cutting and manufacturinqlO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance A.4. Slaughter Plants and Markets Slaughter plants must comply with sanitary requirements as stated in Law N° 17,160 and Regulatory Decree N° 4238/68. The above and the National Meat Law N° 22.375 require all slaughter plants inthe country to meet the standards stated therein. Shipments of animals to abattoirs that slaughter for domestic consumption must be approved and inspected by SENASA.Abattoirs that only slaughter for consumption within their province or municipality represent a small percentage of the slaughter and are controlled by provincial or municipal govemments, as applicable, as stated in Law 22,375, Article 2. Said law aiso grants authority to SENASA to enforce compliance of statutory requirements throughout the country, and assist local authorities in defining sanitary control systems, supervising slaughter, and enforcing penalties (as authorised by law), including closing of facilities. Nationally approved abattoirs slaughter over 87% of all the animals that are sent to slaughter. AII cattle auctions, herds and animals are inspected by SENASA. In all cases, animals are inspected at the time of arrival and departure for whichan Animal Transit Document (DTA) is required to certify the health of the animals. At this time, compliance with truck washing and sanitation requirements is verified.

Specific Controls st Slaughter Plants Ante- mortem • Segregation of animals shipped to slaughter by destination (export ordomestic consumption). There are unloading ramps and holding pens independent for both destinations. • Verification of health and cattle ownership documentation and truck cleaning and disinfection certificate.- Each livestock transport accompanied by the documentation shall conform a herd, Each herd shall be located in an independent pen acc-ording to the riestination

,
-O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance
• Animals are allowed to rest for 6 hours.• The plants have a Sanitary Complex including an Isolation Pen, Emergency Room and Necropsy Room for suspects, fallen or dead animals. • Slaughter authorization documents (Slaughter Log), made up by the listof herds fit for slaughter, ordered according to destination (first of all animals for export).

Post- mortem • Arrival of the animals to the slaughter parlour, in the order stated on the Slaughter Log. • Identification of carcasses with the sequential number stated on the Slaughter Log and the herd number. • Inspection of mammal glands, lips, muzzle, hoofs and tongue. • Synchronisation of carcasses, heads and offals for inspection purposes and to keep the unit of the animal before veterinary inspection. • Veterinary inspection according to Decree N° 4238/68: visual inspection, palpation and carcasses, head and offals gland incision.• Half carcasses, head or offals considered as not fit for human consumption shall be condemned or thermoprocessed. • The same procedure is apptied to slaughter remains. Maturation: after slaughter and before cutting, half carcasses are subjected to a maturation process during 24 hours at a temperature above 2°C to get to a maximum pH of 5.9. AII the above-mentioned processes are registered by the Official Service.

A.5. Supervisi6n por los servicios veterinarios oficialesThe Official Service supervises and controls notification and investigation procediires_ Health and control actions are the responsibility of the Local Veterinarians that participate in the National Epidemio-Surveillance System. Border posts and nelghboriny areas are periodically supeivised and aud;fed by the Offiaal Service.O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance At livestock concentration markets, official veterinarians control and inspect the animals from the time they arrive until they are shipped, and issue the required health certificate. At the slaughter plants, health documents are checked when the herds arrive and before unloading. After unloading, the animals must walk to the corral to

### identify clinical symptoms (drooling, lameness, or other lesions) that would indicate the need to segregate an animal or the herd in an observation corral. SENASA officials continue inspecting the animals for the next 24 hours while the animals remain in the resting corrals (ante mortem inspection). At the time of unloading, animals are segregated according to their destination (domestic consumption or export). Animals for export are slaughtered first, followed by those for domestic consumption. After slaughter, the Official Service proceeds with the post mortem inspection. Individual identification of the animals and the offals throughout the line is of utmost importance for this inspection that includes hooves, muzzle, gums, tongue, offals and carcasses. Inspection of the parts and any observations or condemned carcasses are recorded. This procedure guarantees the identity of the animals and the correspondence of the parts up to the final destination.Offal processing must comply with biosafety requirements (thermal denaturalisation). The destination of the offals is indicated with a stamp and knife cuts. AII

### SENASA approved slaughter plants must have an emergency room, an isolation corral, and a necropsy room with appropriate biosafety conditions to dispose of dead or fallen animals, or others affected by an infectious disease. Animals sent to these facilities are sampled for diagnostic purposes and, after slaughter, are disposed of in the digestor. 

### Additionally, all SENASA approved slaughter plants must have truck washing and disinfection facilities.After slaughter and before deboning, carcasses for export are maturated at controlled ambient temperature (+2°C) for at least 24 hours. The pH of 100 per cent 

### of the carcass sides is measured. Carcass sides with a pH above 5.9 are sent

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### readings performed by the ufficiai veterifiaricaiis are reCorded anu ilrueuO.I. E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance

### Diagnostic laboratories accredited by SENASA and that participate in the Official Network of Diagnostic Laboratories (Resolution 217/95), are supervised and controlled by SENASA's Laboratories and Technical Control Offlce (DILACOT).These laboratories are audited and required to participate in inter-, and intralaboratories tests, and periodic proficiency evaluations to ensure the quality of their procedures and diagnosis.



### B. PROTECTION ZONEProvide a summary of FMD surveillance measures applied in the Protection aone. Make reference to regulations and national legislation and directives of veterinary services, and if appropriate, include the texts in the

annex. (See point 10.- Preventive Measures under implementation in the area of theprogram of Annex il BORDER CONTROL PROGRAM — NORTHERN BORDER).In order to early detect any vesicular disease suspicion, the Official Veterinarian: 

### a) Deals with every notification of suspicion of any disease consistent with FMD, applying, if the diagnosis is confirmed, the actions foreseen in the OIE"s International Animal Health Code and in the Border Control Program 

### — Northem Border b) performs continues inspections to premises characterised as maximum prevention. c) Controls, together with representatives of competence areas, both pro

### vincial and municipal, the depopulation of the slaughter plant neighbour areas, taking the necessary measures to mitigate the risk. d) Audits the control performed in the slaughter plants operating in the 

### area, verifying, among other things, the correct destination of slaughter remains.
E3.1. Uiagriosis 6.1_1. CIlnlca@ tJlagi'BOSIs iNoLiflcaYi®n atBL7 iciveaiigdiii'ii rit3cea"

~ iiares, i;p_O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance 

### (See point 10.6 Clinical Surveys in Annex II BORDER CONTROL PROGRAM — NORTHERN BORDER)
B.1.2. Laboratory (procedures and test results) 13.2. Serological SurveillanceA specific design was established for the serological surveillance of the Protection zone. A"Bordel" zone, comprising the border area with neighbour countries(25 Km. from the border with Bolivia and Paraguay) , is established for the design of serological samplings. Currently, the implementation of the sampling is under the sample collection stage, as it is carried out together with the systematic vaccination campaign and within the Border Control Program — Northem Border. The goal of this program 

### is to detect FMDV viral activity and to estimate the immunity level conferred by vaccination in the territory (25 km.) near the border v,nth Bolivia and Paraguay, in the provinces of Salta and Formosa (See map). The following suppositions were set for the determination of the size of the sample: Level of Trust: 95% Population size: 6.500 herds Prevalence of positive establishments: 1% Prevalence of positive animals: 10%According to these suppositions, 306 premises shall be selected, and 30 bovines per establishment shall be taken, from 6 to 12 months of age, completing 9,180 samples. The ELISA 3ABC-EITB shall be used to detect antibodies against non-structural proteins of the FMDV (viral activity). ELISA in liquid phase to detect antibodies to structural proteins of the FMDV, types 01 and A 2001, shall be used to estimate population immunity.


### B.3. Demographics and Livestock EconomicsThe Protection area if charactenzed by the large number of "subsistence° operaTlonS (IllfTlallC: anC3 i,j

- ei7graphii, Criaracte+`istics mak.°, anlm4l F rAAriin ~ tri Y)P marglnal, wltn a VeN low Ilvestock denslty 1 i1Cle is ilui aii iiiipoiiai+i iiivVCr

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~ aitc:,. "{u l v uncO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance west of Formosa). Business establishments, mainly for bovine breeding, can befound to the east of the region. Susceptible animal stocks and number of premises per department and province in the area of 25 km. near the border with Bolivia and Paraguay (Protection area) are detailed below.

Table: Detail of premises and cattle stock per species in the Protection zone. Province Department Bovines Pigs Goats Sheep TOTAL

Santa Cata

### 222 45 16643 10580 27490 Jujuy lina



### Yavi 859 30 35006 12475 48370 S. Victoria O. 4151 1487 527 2892 9057 

### Oran 2806 337 2 176 3321 Salta San Martin 18500 5200 3200 3000 29900

Rivadavia BN 14320 5100 23000 6000 48420 R. Lista 10668 4661 i 33836 6655 55820 

### Berme j 

### o 5910 11427 I 

### 24092 ~ 

### 10652 52081 Patino 38436 2762 ~ 

### 11534i 2526 55258

-- -- —_ — 83 

### 228 Formosa Pilagas 13984 55 ; ~ 

### 14350

-- - - - --- 

### :._

- - --- . -- - -- _ - Pilcomayo 28359 341 ' ~ 370 ! 1060 30130 

### Laishi 549381 779 627i 407 56751 Formosa_ 10000 ' 

### i 226, 686 1044 11956 TOTAL 203153 ' 32450 149606 57695 442904
B.4. Slaughter Plants and Markets There are a few slaughter plants in this zone due to the scarce meat production and consumption supply is carried out from other zones. Approval and controls of these slaughter plants were described in point A,4. There are no livestock concentration markets Animal trade in carried out in a dirertwav


### D.;'r. Superv;sion by C

, ffic l3l Veter9narV Servlces

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- StrP,nQthE'111f1u r'Idn i4U`t VI!;yO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on surveillance additional measures to strengthen the tasks in the border areas have been taken, but these measures have also been implemented in the strategic roadfixed posts, near border crossings, where domestic controls, together with national security forces, are carried out. Additional personnel has been appointedand a working program has been established, including a larger number of people and provision of immovable and movable items for the development of this plan.(See point 9.- Strengthen of the Sanitary Structure in Annex II BORDER CONTROL PROGRAM — NORTHERN BORDER).O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on Eradication 

### 11.3. SECTION ON FMD ERADICATION 1.- History (epidemiological description of events)
a.- Cases of FMD in the region. In July 2003, the Official Service from Bolivia reported an outbreak of FMD inthe Candua district of the department of Chuquisaca. Outbreaks were later reported in La Paz, Potosi and Tarija departments. The virus was typified as virus O. At the same time, beginning of July 2003, the National Service from Paraguay(SENACSA) reported an outbreak of FMD in the Pozo Hondo district of the department of Boqueron. The affected holding is 3 Km. from the Argentine border.Technicians from the National Services of Paraguay, Bolivia and Argentina carried out meetings and inspections on the border together with the Coordinationof the Pan American Foot and Mouth Disease Centre /OPS-Del Plata River Basin, in order to evaluate the regional sanitary situation and formulate a joint buffer strategy. Argentina has not reported FMD outbreaks since January 2002. b.- Actions carried out by Argentina.Due to the regional sanitary situation, SENASA from Argentina immediately declared a Border Sanitary Alert and instrumented measures to avoid the introduction of the disease in the national territory.

### A"Border Buffer Zone", 25 Km, wide by 250 Km. long, was fixed along the borders with Bolivia and Paraguay. In this area, all susceptible animals were vaccinated and revaccinated within an 

### interval of 30 days as an emergency vaccination procedure where all animals were identified with official ear tags. A serological sampling was simultaneously performed to detect the presence of 

### infection/viral activity of FMDV. A surveillance area was delimited 10 Km. from the sanitary cordon, taking as a limit the inner side of such cordon ; where epidemiological tracing, farmers surveys and clinic inspections to animals were carried out.

--~ ~ `.+„ ~ inrnroi rci u t~I~fi~ hffi in thls area, the estabiishments `~~ /lih 5

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.~.~ „ r with the ones inside the "butrer zone" were the lidfqel Ui ihe Seruiiuyii,ai Sa:i

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.O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on Eradication Bovines, sheep, goats and pigs of the border area at risk were vaccinated twice, enhancing the immune ban

- ier.Cattle inspections in the field did not detect any suspect case of disease according to clinical signs. At the time of the vaccination, a sero-epidemiological sampling was performed.2.300 sera samples from sheep and goats were collected in 150 holdings, (unvaccinated sentinel species). The diagnostic tests used to detect NSP and SP 

### were VIAA — AGID and ELISA in liquid phase respectively. This test showed the absence of viral activity.


### Foot and Mouth Disease in the territory.- The last outbreak of FMD in Argentina 

### Animals with lesions compatible with Foot and Mouth Disease were detected in the district of Tartagal in the province of Salta on 28 August, 2003. The outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease in Argentina was preceded by other cases in Bolivia and Paraguay. 

### The affected establishment was a family-owned farm located in General San Martin department, in the province of Salta. Such farm is 40 km. from the border with Bolivia, near the Buffer Zone established by the sanitary alert stated in July.

### The farmer notified the suspect case. The inspection of the establishment verified that the animal population was composed of 37 pigs. Neither clinic norpathological evidence of vesicular disease in its severe stage was found. Sixteen animals presented the result of lesions in hooves with one centimeter long regenerated tissue on the crown, together with Tunga penetrans lesions common parasite in the area. During the survey, the farmer made reference to the previous death of piglets (20 days before) and later deaths of adult pigs (10 days later). The infected establishment is close to the pens of the local slaughterhouse. Scattered bovine bones could be detected all over the premises. T he (iig5 did nut pre5eiit i`c^ce)r

~ . '"iS Of vacon

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ttlE' virtl5 bV seeUirieJ E3hK 1 eiiaO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on Eradication Sera samples from affected animals were collected to detect antibodies to structural and non structural proteins of the FMD virus, with positive results. Based on the serological results, lesions observed, information collected during the anamnesis and the epidemiological relationship with the outbreaks stated in 

### the border countries, on 5 September the outbreak of FMD was confirmed inaccordance with the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code in spite of the impossibility of the virus isolation and the absence of clinical manifestation of the disease in a severe stage. 

### The antibodies titres against NSP (ELISA in liquid phase), enabled to infer that the acting Virus was type "O" later confirmed by Virus neutralization.On 29 August it was immediately notified to the Veterinary Services of the countries commercially related in the region, as well as international organizations (OIE, PANAFTOSA-OPS/OMS, etc.).


### 2.- Eradication strategy The National System for Sanitary Emergencies was put into force on 28 August 2003, stated in SENASA Resolution N° 779/99. 

### The strategy adopted to eradicate the outbreak was stated in item 3 from Article 3.8.7.5 of Annex 3.8.7 and item 2 from Article 2.2.10.7 of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code that involves: ® Sanitary slaughter of diseased and contact animals.♦ Emergency Strategic Vaccination to all susceptible species in the surveillance areas, vvithout further slaughter of vaccinated animals.♦ 

### Serological surveillance to show absence of viral activity.
3. Use of vaccines and vaccination (employrnent and vaccine quality control) The National Program contemplates periodic and systematic vaccination only for bovines. The rest of the susceptible species are vaccinated in strategic or 

### emergency situations. The vaccine in use, inactivated, contains an oil adjuvant that provides extended immunity, manufactureci by privaie iaborat'e'siies °iat ame contro!!ed by SENASA.

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~ .".t. ^ rrO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on EradicationLocal SENASA veterinarians certify, control and audit the vaccination campaigns, and, on scheduled dates, submit reports on the progress of the campaigns to SENASA"s Head Office.In some regions, vaccination dates differ to accommodate to the production systems, and the geographic and epidemiologicai characteristics of the area. AII the vaccines used in the country are controlled by SENASA"s laboratory. Samples of the final product of each series are analysed once the producer has filled and stamped them to control the production process. AII series of vaccines are tested for: 

### Safety: Elution and concentration of the vaccine virus, passage through BHK cells, and inoculation of the whole-virus vaccine in lactating mice.Sterility: Seeding in normal laboratory media to demonstrate absence of bacterial or fungal contaminants.Physical and chemical composition: Viscosity, conductivity, centrifuge and accelerated ageing tests, to confirm the stability of the emulsion. 

### Non structural: Vaccines must not interfere with tests to detect antibodies against NSP. Sera from bovines used for the Potency test are tested with 3 ABC ELISA + EITB. 

### Efficacy or Potency: Vaccines submitted for registration are tested with Direct Potency Assay following the percentage of protection against generalized foot infection (PGP) method. Sixteen (16) antibody free bovines are challenged and

### tested ninety (90) days after vaccination. The tested vaccines must provide protection in eighty-one (81) per cent of the challenged animals for each virus type included in the vaccine. This method is the reference test. After the registered vaccine is approved, all series of vaccines are tested with an indirect method. Sixteen (16) animals are bled 0— 30 - 60 days after vaccination. The level of speclTlc antibodies for each one o l r 

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### tested with liquid phase ELISA. The average of the 16 titres determines the ExPeGteu Protection t'ercentage (EPPI, for each valency_ Th? minirnum EPP to

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### ..,_.. _ :. _ . _ .O.I. E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on EradicationThe National Program lays down strategic vaccination for emergency or sanitary risk cases.Strategic vaccination and re vaccination was performed (within a thirty-day interval between each one) to all susceptible species in the surveillance area by 

### official vaccinators and with vaccines provided by SENASA. Vaccination began on 29/08/03 and ended on 19/09/03, re vaccination began on 02/10/03 and ended on 30/10103.The vaccine used in this campaign is the same vaccine provided by the Na

### tional Program with an oiI adjuvant and containing the following strains: A24 Cruzeiro, A2000, A 2001 and 01 Campos.

4. Organization The National Animal Health and Agrifood Quality Service is the enforcementauthority and regulating body responsible for planning, implementing and controlling actions to eradicate FMD, as stated in Laws N° 23.899, 3959 and 24.305. The National Animal Health Office (DNSA) of SENASA is responsible for theNational FMD Eradication Program. Its regulatory and operational divisions implement and audit the strategies and actions defined by DNSA. The National Animal Health Office of the National Animal Health and Agrifood Quality Service establishes the technical requirements of the Program. The Epidemiology Officewithin DNSA is responsible for the regulatory aspects, and assessment and recording of information. The General Field Office, the Regional Supervisors and the Local SENASA Veterinarians are the operational arm that controls.Responsibility for vaccination lies in the Local Animal Health NGOs that are audited by the National Service. The Local Animal Health NGOs are responsible for: • purchasing, storing and keeping the vaccine; • managing the vaccine, from the time it is delivered until it is administered: 

### • adr;;in iStarin 

### g anr

,f scheduling the vaccination campaign to ensure all bo- :Jines ir)c:iuded 

### ;n the Program are vaccinated;

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### a;,cin- han!: fcremerqe^ciesO.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on Eradication• collecting and managing the revenues generated by the vaccination program; 

### • reporting vaccination and any non-compliance to SENASA;• assessing together with SENASA and the local technical team, the progress of the campaign;

### On the other hand, as part of the Epidemio-Surveillance System, they are required to report animal health problems to SENASA. The National Epidemio-Surveillance System is based on three levels of action and responsibility: Central, Regional and Local.At the central level the Central Committee for Sanitary Emergencies is responsible for the application of control actions and the managing of human and financial resources. At a regional level, responsibility lies with the Sanitary Emergency Regional Team coordinated from the central level by the National Animal Health Office. This team is composed of professionals, technicians and administrative stafffrom SENASA, the local office in the affected jurisdiction together with its personnel will provide necessary support to the field technicians. The main lines of action of the Local Sanitary Unit include:• Primary response to suspect cases (remittance of protocols and description of establishments and preliminary measures). 

### • Communication with the Regional Supervisor. • Reporting to the Sanitary Emergency Local Committee. • Development of activities requested by the operations chief. • Updated maps of the jurisdictions • Geographical description and production characterization.• Updated information on livestock, truckers, livestock dealers, profession

### als related to establishments (veterinarians, agricultural engineers, aaents controllina dairy farms, etc.).• Dealing with updated information from local authorties: Town Hall, Secu

### riry rorces, Civil Eri

-

ieraency, F"ire Brigades, private Veterinarians and others).

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~ .._ .,,.... _._.. , ... ~ ..... ._. . . ~ ~O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on Eradication 

### 5. FMD Eradication Plan The execution of the FMD Eradication Plan is defined in SENASA Resolution N° 512001 where basic technical guidelines are stated and specific and general objectives and strategies are laid down. In the outbreak that took place in the district of Tartagal, 28 August 2003, and 

### according to the strategy adopted for its eradication, the following actions were carried out: 1.- Delimitation of the areas:
a.- Focal (affected establishment and contacts). 

### b.- Perifocal (establishments within a 3- Km-radius. as from a.-).

c.- Surveillance (establishments included in a 10- Km-radius from the external limit of b.-). 

### 2. Quarantine in the areas mentioned in item 1, total prohibition on movement of susceptible animals and restrictions on risk material. 3. Sanitary slaughter of diseased and contact animals. 4. Strategic vaccination to all susceptible species in perifocal and surveillance areas and identification with ear tags. 5. Creation of new control posts and disinfection of strategic points. 6. Epidemiologic research in order to determine the origin of the outbreak. 7. Sero-epidemiologic survey in order to detect infection/viral activity in the areas. 

### 8. Clinical inspections of the establishments in the areas.

Sanitary slaughter of diseased and contact animals took place in the afFectedestablishment on 10 September: 58 porcines, 10 caprines, 2 ovines and 3 bovines. During the sanitary slaughter sera and organ samples were collected. 

### Strategic vaccination implemented in the emergency zone as a consequence of FMD outbreak in Tartagal (Salta):

### Str_ategic vaccination is implemented as stated in the National Plan for emergencies or sanitary risk cases Strategic vaccination anc_1 revaccination was Periui

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~ ,O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on Eradication 

### nation began 29/08/03 and ended 19/09/03, the second vaccination began 02/10/03 and ended 30/10/03.The vaccine used in this campaign is the same vaccine provided by the National Program with an oil adjuvant and containing the following strains: A24 Cruzeiro, A2000, A 2001 and 01 Campos.

Vaccinated livestock per areas Bovines: Category: 1: Cows, 2: Bulls, 3: Heifers, 4: Steers, 5: Calves, 6: Total

Area Producers 

### Bovines * Sheep/ Goats 

### Pigs Total 1 2 3 4 5 6 Perifocal 43 485 29 169 201 203 1087 225 820 2132

### Surveillance 189 936 59 308 552 586 2441 1304 2158 5903

Total 232 1421 88 477 753 789 3528 1529 2978 8035


### Total prohibition on the movement of animals. 

### Issuance of DTA documentation and "guias" for the movement of animals were suspended. 

### This action was reported to police and municipal authorities.
Control posts and disinfection. 

### In order to comply with what has been previously exposed, 6 control posts anddisinfection in strategic points were established with SENASA"s staff and support from National Border Patrol (see map): • Local slaughter post (Tranquitas) Tartagal. • Aguaray Post, on national route 34.
+ Balbuena Post, on rlatlollal route34.

• Post on the crossing of national route 34 and national route 81.

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### Origin of the outbreak and spreading of the virus investigation:Two hypotheses were the target of the epidemiological investigation to determine the origin of the infection:Hypothesis 1: "Pigs were fed with slaughtered bovine waste from the contiguous slaughterhouse°.
Therefore, the investigation was focused on cattle herds introduced at the local slaughterhouse in a period within 30 and 60 days before the outbreak. 21 establishments were identified and the following actions were taken:. Anamnesis was performed with survey to owners of remitting establishments and neighbors. • Clinic inspections of animals on the premises were conducted.
• It was verified the compliance with vaccinations. Livestock demographics: Total Serological N° Estab- Total BoSheep/Go Total Pigs Total investigation lishments vines ats Establishments that sent bovines 21 2426 780 102 3.308 to slaughter
In the premises wwhere at least one positive reactor to NSP was detected, complementary research, epidemiological survey including clinical inspections to all animals and serology to all bovines were perFormed. Results were negative. No evidence was found that indicated which establishments were the source of the origin of infection. Although no formal evidence was collected, and according to the informationobtained in the area, the possibility of introduction of infected bovines, connected to ilfegal movements from the border zone, in the slaughterhouse, could not be discarded. Hyuothesis 2: "I he outbreak ir, plgs , :vas 5?condarv to Other outbreak produced

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.O.I.E. — Request to Regain Status of Foot and Mouth Disease Free Area with Vaccination Section on Eradication Investigation vvith cfinical inspection and serology in perifocal and surveillance areas took place to determine the spreading of the virus. In the perifocal area the entire bovine population was bled. In some premises, due to operational reasons, lack of facilities and infrastructure, the whole bovinepopulation could not be bled. Nevertheless samples from all the fields with bovines were collected. Samples were also collected from non vaccinated susceptible species (other than bovines) to detect structural proteins. 22 establishments with bovine animals were sampled.Supplementary investigations, epidemiological survey including clinical inspections and serology procedures to all animals were perfomned in premises where 

### at least one positive reactor to NSP was detected, no evidence of viral activity was determined. Serologic sampling was carried out in the surveillance area. Reactors to EITBwere detected in only one establishment. Additional investigations with epidemiological survey, re-sampling and clinical inspections of all animals were performed on such establishment with negative results confirming the absence of viral activity. In addition, there was no viral isolation of oesophagus-pharingeal liquid samples in positive reacting animals. 

### Based on the above mentioned, it has been concluded that there was no spread of the virus neither from or to the perifocal and surveillance zones nor to any other areas of the country This also confirmed the effectiveness of the control and eradication measures implemented.

Lifting of restrictive measures:Once the control and eradication actions were ended and together with the re

### sults of epidemiological investigations and surveys that proved the absence of viral activity, all restrictive measures were lifted in December 2003
Additional FMD serologicai sampling in perifocal area (Tartaga's—SaltajFebruarylMarc!'t 2004'

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