### 24. Your submission states that disease was spread primarily by movement of animals from breeding areas to fattening areas. What other means were discovered that resulted in the spread of the disease? What were the results of any epidemio/ogical investigation?

As it was mentioned in the submission, the first outbreaks that were detected were caused by the transportation of livestock from the border breeding areas towards the fattening areas located in the center of Argentina. Afterwards, the disease was spread within these areas due to the density of susceptible animals and also by animals movement among establishments
of the same area. In both cases the livestock movements were halted temporarily (except for immediate slaughter) decreasing outstandingly the
occurrence of the disease. In the isolated outbreaks that occurred in historically paraendemic areas (northwest and Cuyo), in some cases the
disease arose from the movement of breeders or animals of affected areas sent to be slaughtered. In some cases it was also proved that in the height of the epidemic, the infection was caused by the movement of farm machinery during the harvest period, as well as the movement of people (veterinarians, vaccinators, etc.).



### 25. What changes in regulations or practices occurred to address the epidemiological linkages that were established between focal points in the most recent outbreaks? Can you estFinate the effectiveness of those changes?After the outbreak in neighboring countries in 2000 and because of the first cases in our country, the first modifications in the regulations aimed at preventing the entry of the agent into the country and at diminishing the risk of disease spread from the primarily affected areas (north of the country) to the central areas. For that reason, susceptible animals outgoing wwas banned and movement was restrained in border areas. Additional measures were applied regarding the susceptible animals movement throughout the country, including negative serological analysis for FMD before the transportation, and as above mentioned, the movements were completely prohibited, excepting of those animals for immediate slaughtering. In spite of these measures, the disease came into the country and spread widely in most of the territory. Nevertheless, the strategies of the 2001 Eradication Plan, allowed the prompt decrease of clinic cases and the subsequent disease eradication.



### 26. What changes have been made to prevent re®ntroduction of FMD into the country?

The researches conducted as from the last outbreaks (2000 and 2003) proved that the northern provinces, in the Bolivian and Paraguay borders, are the areas where the infection may be reintroduced. Consequently, from the middle of 2003, when outbreaks were reported in these countries and after the Salta outbreak, special actions have been implemented in these areas tending to diminish the risk of the introduction of the disease and to
reinforce the surveillance.

### The main actions that were implemented were: • The reinforcement of the sanitary structure of the area: the opening of additional local offices, personnel hiring, purchase of new vehicles, etc. • Official FMD vaccination of all susceptible species, with individual identification (eartag). • Reinforcement of border check posts: • Reinforcement of personnel in borders and check posts of sanitary reinsurance. • Vehicles disinfection in border posts approved by SENASA in Salta, Jujuy and Formosa in the Bolivian and Paraguay borders. • Intensification of controls of passengers coming into the country. • Destruction of confiscated products. • Reinforcement of epidemic surveillance (directed serological samples); • Additional controls in animal movement. his group of actions was formalized in a Plan of Border Receipt, with the promulgation of the Resolution SENASA N° 403/2004. inside this plan he/she is the Sub-project of North Frontier A that it in fact embraces the area referred above (to see Annex III Plan of Border Receipt).



### 27. Are there any factors concerning the adjacent regions that are relevant to disease spread (e.g. size, distance from adjacent borders to affected herds or animals)?

See Annex III Border Control Plan.

### 28. Were biosecurity measures in place that did not work and, if so, how were the measures corrected to prevent re-introduction of the disease?

Although the cause of the infection in 2000 was not completely explained, the most probable hypothesis is the animals entry through the Argentine northern border. This border is formed mostly by physical features (rivers), but there is an arid area without a clear delimitation that does not guarantee completely the animals entry. Although there are check posts in all the border posts, there may be informal animal movement that may hardly be
detected. Consequently, the Border Control Plan was implemented, due to the different introductions of the disease into the country through this part of the
border. This Plan delimitation and actions can be consulted in the corresponding Annex.



### 29. P/ease provide more information on geographic factors that may influence the 

### spread of FMD in your country. Discuss in rnore detail the social, 

### economic, and political factors that play a role in FMD epidemiology and how programs to mitigate risk were designed relatfve to these factors.

There are different socioeconomic types of livestock productions in our country. These different types of productions originated different ecosystems that have historically influenced the spread of the disease. The bovine

### breeding zones, formed by the provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Cordoba, La Pampa, Entre Rios (excepting the fattening zones existing in these provinces), San Luis, Santiago del Estero, Chaco, Formosa, Corrientes, Misiones and Rio Negro, have characterized by the presence of an adult population that generated in the past the conditions for the constant presence of the virus in the animal population (Primary endemic ecosystem). Northern Buenos Aires, northeastem La Pampa and southern Cordoba, Entre Rios and Santa Fe are zones of bovine fattening. These areas have characterized by a high rate of animal contact, with bovines of higher susceptibility and a high rate of population rechanging, with entries from breeding areas (Secondary endemic ecosystem). Northwest and Cuyo regions, formed by the provinces of Jujuy, Salta, La Rioja, Tucuman, Catamarca, Mendoza and San Juan, have charecterized by a scarce bovine density, with familiar or subsistence economies that have not favored the endemic permanence of the virus in last years. Historicallyonly sporadic outbreaks occurred because of infected animals and byproducts entry (Paraendemic ecosystem). In the south, the Patagonia region is formed by the provinces of Neuquen, Rio Negro, Chubut, Santa Cruz and Tierra del Fuego. The provinces of Neuquen and Rio Negro, just south of Neuquen river, formed the surveillance zone between the FMD free area and the rest of the country (Undamaged ecosystem). There have not been FMD outbreaks in the other provinces of the Patagonia region and this is a FMD free ecosystem recognized by OIE.The analysis of the FMD reintroduction in 2000/2001 proves that a border with a poor topographical definition in some northem areas influenced the FMD appearance. Thus young infected animals moved from the border breeding zones towards fattening areas, spreading the disease. The experience over the years proved that the control of primary endemic ecosystems allows to control and eradicate the disease in the rest of the ecosystems. At present, the Border Control Plan (see Annex) is being implemented in the northern border, as part of a mitigation program of border risk. Also see vaccination strategies according the ecosystems in the answer to the question 

### What schedules do you follow, including times of revaccinafion?

30. We are parficularly interested in identifying risk pathways that may lead to the introduction of FM® into the United States. P/ease provide detafled information concerning export procedures for beef, inc/uding storage or quarantine conditions and times, transport procedures, s/aughter procedures and projections of the amounts of bone/ess and matured beef you intend to export.

To the ends of being able to export fresh meat with that destination the troops of animals that will be slaughtered will come directly from farm. The obtained meats of the tasks of the same ones, they will be matured immediately in camera after the task, during 36 hours to a temperature in the camera not smaller to 4° C, until reaching in the muscle "Yongissimus dorsis' a
PH 5.9.The meats will be completely boneless and free of lymphatic, packed and prepared ganglion for their export.

Although the opening of fresh bovine meat market is still in process, Argentina Republic estimates for future exportation similar Ton. as years before. See the graphic attached.



### Bovine Fresh 

### Meat Exportations per Year in Tones j

Na TOTA 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003



# 1 2004 L Canada 42.664 122 15.148 22.813 4.581

- - -
United 49.367 6.717 23.547 14.987 4.116

- - - States World"s 882.488 86.993 132.271 133.674 38.027 108.357 155.350 227.816 Exportation



### 31. Does Argentina have any FMD-susceptible feral or wild animals? If so, what is their disease status in the vaccinated areas and in the buffer zones w/th Bolivia and Paraguay? Please address migratory patterns between zones and provide any surveillance data you have obtafned on susceptible species.

There are several FMD susceptible wild species in Argentina, native or introduced by men: deer, wild boars, capybaras, vvild South American camelidae (guanacos, Ilamas, alpacas, etc.), anteiopes, buffalos, etc. With regard to these species surveillance, there is not a program of the
actions related to the control or surveillance of diseases. Nevertheless specific studies have been carried out on vvild species, mainly related to

### FMD and classic swine fiver. Further information can be found in 

### Annex IV 'Serological samples 2002'. In addition, as the OIE have asked member countries to report wild animals diseases, information is being gathered through the Environment Secretariat and agreements with agencies devoted to wild fauna (Secretariat of Natural Resources and Environment, National Parks, etc.).


## The status of adjacent regions with respect to the agent

32. 

### P/ease describe the boundaries of the buffer zone around the vaccfnation area in the District of Tarija in Bolivia that shares a border with the provinces of Salta and Jujuy in Argentina (page 23). What activities were under

-taken in the buffer zone to prevent the introduction and spread of FMD?

See the answer to question 

### What changes have been made to prevent reintroduction of FMD into the country?

The buffer zone called Border Cordon includes an area of 25 km in width in its narrowest part, from the Bolivian and Paraguay border inland the country. It extends in length, from the department of Santa Catalina, in the province of Jujuy, up to the department of Laishi, in the province of Formosa. Its length is 1200 km and its area is almost 3 million hectares. The whole area of the holdings that are located partly within the cordon, is included in the program (see Annex lll Border 

### Contro/ Plan) for sanitary
purposes.In the case of the district of Tarija border, the buffer zone is next to some areas of the provinces of Jujuy and Salta: PROVINCE OF JUJUY:
- It includes the 25 km area on the Santa Catalina and Yavi intemational
border. PRONVINCE OF SALTA: - The border cordon in this province includes the area next to the international border, of the departments of Santa Victoria, Oran, Iruya, General Jose de San Martin y Rivadavia.



### 33. Is active surveillance (e.g. inspectlon activities and serological surveys) occurring in Salta and Jujuy? If no4 explaln why.

The active surveillance carried out in these zones is similar to the actions that are implemented throughout the country: serological samples, clinic inspections (in slauthterhouses, auctions, during vaccinations), etc. In addition directed serological samples have been carried out in particular circumstances, as in the case of outbreaks in neighboring countries (outbreak in Pozo Hondo, Paraguay, July, 2003). Nevertheless, since the Border Control Plan implementation, additional active surveillance actions are conducted in this area, such as differential serological samples, vaccinations in all species, individual identification of all species, individual identification of all vaccinated animal, clinic inspections before animal movement, etc.

### 34. How is aninal movement controlled between the buffer zone and neighboring areas in Argentina?

The official veterinarian or SENASA paratechnician takes part in all the animals outgoings from the area included in the Border Control Plan, excepting of those animals that would be slaughtered immediately. Every susceptible animal that is moved from the Border Control Plan area is inspected, excepting those for immediate slaughtering, to check whether they have been previously re-vaccinated, verifying notification and entry to
the destination. Every susceptible animal that comes into the Border Control Plan area is inspected, verifying if it has the authorization of the SENASA veterinarian of the jurisdiction of destination. At the arrival the animals are identified with ear tags and re-vaccinated, when they are not sent for immediate slaughtering. SENASA may establish additional requirements for animals outgoings according to the sanitary situation of the region. Fixed posts have been placed along the ingoing and outgoing roads where SENASA and security forces control the animals traffic.



### 35. Your submission referred to preventative measures (Attachment 1,
page 23) being 

### strengthened and enforced in relation to Argentina's border with Paraguay. What measures were strengthened and enforced? What &ind of surveillance and animal health protection programs exist in the region?See answer to question 

### What changes have been rrrade to prevent reintroduction of FMD into the country? and 

### Annex III Border 

### Control Plan.

36. What /evel of ha mony and co/laboration exists between Argentina and neighboring countries in terms of FMD contro/?

Regional activities are coordinated through different projects and programs conducted by several international agencies and agreements, and also through bilateral programs and agreements with neighboring countries:

Hemispheric Plan for FMD Control and Eradication: The Hemispheric Plan for FMD Control and Eradication is coordinated by the Pan American Foot and Mouth Disease Center (PANAFTOSA) and Argentina takes part in one of the PHCEFA sub-programs, Cuenca del Plata Agreement for the FMD Eradication.

Cuenca del Plata Agreement for FMD Eradication: In 1987, an agreement among Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay was signed in Porto Alegre, Brazil, with the purpose of debating and coordinate a common strategy to struggle against FMD. The strategic project was developed in February 1988 by technicians of the three countries and it was implemented
in 1989. In 1992, Paraguay joined the project and afterwards Bolivia. The Republic of Chile participates as observer country. The Agreement operates through an Executive Committee, formed by the sanitary authorities of each member countries, and a Technical Group

### advising the Committee, formed by five veterinarian from each country and two permanent consultants, the Coordinator and the Epidemiologist, who advice the member countries. This Technical Group, through which all the activities of the Agreement are channeled, meets four times a year. This multilateral Agreement establishes a system of reciprocal information by which data on occurrence and/or suspicions of vesicular diseases are weekly submifted with its corresponding geographic location, acting virus strains, exposed population, ill animals, etc. In addition, immediate notification of any risk sanitary situation, present in the border areas is mandatory. The country notifies the other members of the Agreement on the prices of the young bull on the hoof and this makes it easier to detect risk situations or tendencies with regards to possible illegal trade flows of animals, products and by-products in the border areas. The Agreement also establishes that, if there is a suspicion or disease up to 60 km of the border, or in any other geographic point representing a risk for the rest of the countries of the Agreement, the affected country has to notify immediatefy their neighbors about the situation, so that they can take adequate preventive measures.

Argentine-Bolivian Technical Assistance: Argentina is cooperating with the Bolivian govemment on the struggle against FMD by means of transference of technology and technical assistance to program the Sanitary Plan. The Bureau of Laboratories of SENASA trained Bolivian agents on performance and standarization of FMD diagnostic serological tests. Periodical meetings are held among agents of both countries in order to exchange sanitary information about cadastres,animal poputation, high risk or greatest prevention holdings, vaccinations and suspicions, serological samples, etc. In turn, Argentina is cooperating with other countries in the region to develop
a FMD Control and Eradication Plan.

Bilateral Agreement in the border area with Paraguay. Joint tasks were agreed in the border area to establish a FMD vaccination, prevention and epidemiological surveillance program with the aim of mitigating the risk of occurrence of FMD. Recently, the National Agri-food Health and Quality Service (SENASA) signed a letter of intent with the Paraguay sanitary service (SENACSA) and with the White Helmet Commission to 'agree on a participation and cooperation mechanism' of the latter at both sides of the border, wwithin the framework of the Regional Program for the Eradication of FMD, boosted by the South Farming Council (CAS). The Border Control Plan was established by SENASA Resolution N° 43 in 2004 and implemented within the framework of these actions. (For further information see Annex Border Plan)

Regional Program for the Eradication of FMD, boosted by the South Farming Council (CAS) and South America Standing Veterinary Committee (CVP): The Departments of Agricu ture of the enlarged MERCOSUR countries (Southern Common Market) (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia and Chile) signed an agreement to form the South Farming Council (CAS) as a tool for the regional dialogue, consultations and joint actions, regarding the farming, forestry and fishing sectors, animal and vegetal health and food innocuousness, as well as international negotiations on products trading.

### The South Farming Council (CAS) was created within the framework of the South America Standing Veterinary Committee (CVP). The basic aim of this entity is to coordinate actions and increase the regional capacity of preventing and control the sanitary effects and risks that afrect animals and by-products production and trading in the region. The CVP is formed by the highest rank authorities in Animal Health of the Departments of Agriculture of the member countries. Among its main tasks, the CVP coordinates the actions and strategies of inember countries with third countries or economic blocks to facilitate the trading of farming products; coordinates the member countries actions before intemational bodies (OIE, Codex Alimentarius, FAO, PAHO, etc.); form multiagencies and multidisciplinary teams to respond to sanitary emergences and help to the epidemiological surveillance of the countries in the region; etc.

37. What are your procedures for recognizing countries as free of FMD



### orother diseases?

The Repubfic of Argentina accepts the status established by the World Organization for Animal Health on FMD and for other diseases for which this organization establishes recognition processes of the sanitary status.


## The extent of an active control program in the region

38. What is 

### the role of the private sector in 

### FMD control programs? Who funds the control activities at the local level and how does the

### government oversee any private sector roles? P/ease describe how private and governrnental units interact for FMD control.

The law 24.305 and its Regulatory Decree (643/96) validate the local foundations and entities of sanitary struggle. The national plan establishes
the tasks of these entities and the FMD Eradication Plan shall be founded on them at local level. These entities of struggle against FMD are created and formed by local producers and people related to the livestock sector. In addition, the private sector takes part in the National Committee of Struggle against FMD (CONALFA), through representatives of veterinary professionals, meat processing plant industry, livestock agents, etc. This committee takes part in the planning, monitoring and assessment of the
FMD Eradication Plan. One of the main roles in private sector, carried out through their foundations, in the FMD control is to cany out the systematic vaccination campaigns. This strategy that had already been used in the nineties allowed the eradication of the disease in Argentina for the first time. The local entities of sanitary struggle have an Administrative Committee, a Technical Committee and an Operating Committee. The Administrative Committee is formed by producers and deals with the management of the funds required by this committee operations. The vaccines and the applications are afforded by each producer. Each administrative area located within the systematic vaccination area of the country, has its Local Vaccination Plan, which is developed by the respective Local Sanitary entity and should be approved by COPROSA(Provincial Commission of Animal Heafth). Later, once Plan is approved, it is sent to CONALFA and SENASA to obtain the definitive approval. The 361 Vaccination Plans of the country, supervised by SENASA, with
their 5900 agents are responsible for the implementation of the vaccination.
The SENASA Resolution N° 623102, establishes the duties and responsibilities of each member of the operating group, and how his duty
should be carried out.
A strict control over the performance of each group member is performed both by the Technical Committee members and the SENASA Local Veterinary. SENASA Resolution N° 33/02 states the audits that the SENASA Local Veterinary of the jurisdiction should carry out on the Local Plan, parlicularly on the operating group performance during the campaign.



### 39. What type of training is provided to participating institutfons and which personnel are given the training?

See question 4.



### 40. What role do private practitioners play in disease 

### surveillance, detection, and reporrting?

The Local Sanitary Entities of Vaccination performed an important role in the disease surveillance, as the operating group (vaccinators and programmers) visits and inspects al{ the bovines in the establishments at least twice annually. The task carried out by this group and that of the producers andpeople who are in charge of the animals turn them into one of the main sensors of the surveillance system.



### 41. On page 28, you 

### mentioned that contact animals may be subject to sanitary s/aughter for domestic consumption only, 

### provided that appropriate biosafety and risk mitigation procedures are fo/lowed.

In some cases the contact animals that would be used for domestic consumption were slaughtered when the disease was still endemic.



### 42. During an outbreak, why are on/y diseased animals slaughtered and
not

### all contact animals? Please provide more details.

The previous submission information on this issue fitted vvith the regulations (SENASA Resolution N° 35/02) established in a different sanitary situation, when the disease was still endemic, after one of the most important FMD outbreaks that have been in the country. When the outbreaks occurrence decreased and there were only sporadic cases, sanitary slaughter was implemented. At present, sanitary slaughter is indicated for all disease animals and direct contacts, with the destruction of the carcasses in the same holding, when the
FMD outbreak is confirmed.



### 43. How are carcasses disposed of on fanrs where stamping out procedures are implemented?In the cases when sanitary slaughter was implemented, the carcasses were buried in a sanitary pit or destroyed by heat.



### 44. P/ease provide updated information on the number of disease investigations and quarantines conducted by Argentina during the past
3

### years.

Quarantine measures were implemented in all the FMD suspected establishments, either because the outbreak was confirmed or the disease
was ruted out afterwards. The following table shows the number of establishments inspected due to outbreaks occurrence o to suspicion of vesicular disease in the past 3 years.

YEAR OUTBREAKS SUSPICIONS TOTAL 2001 2438 64 2502
2002 1 3 4
2003 1 0 1
2004 0 0 0



### 45. What epidemiologica/ investigations were done to trace the source of infection? What procedures were followed in conducting the investigations and what follow-up procedures have been instituted? What were the results of the investigations, if any?AII cases of outbreak or vesicular disease are investigated firstly to reach a definitive diagnosis, and to determine also the cause and spread of the disease (retrospective and future tracing, respectively) in the confirmed
cases of FMD. The technicians of the emergence team of the affected area develop research and tracing tasks, jointly with the local veterinary. Information is gathered through observations, visits, interviews and samples taking. The local SENASA office (Sanitary Management System) has a database. Researches on holdings or people related to them are conducted from the data collected about the affected establishment and adjacent holdings (animals, people and vehicles movement, vaccinations). In the 2001 and 2002 outbreaks, the research was carried out in most of the cases at local or regional levels as a result of the high number of cases. This research was oriented to the study of the outbreak in each district. Resolution 35/2002 approves the Program for epidemiological researches and preventive activities when the occurrence of FMD is suspected and has an annex with a epidemiological research form. The Program states the measures that should be taken to respond to the outbreak and the
researches that shall be conducted.



## Vaccination status of the region

46. Please provide an update 

### concerning vaccination activities for the
second 

### campaign in 2002 and 

### for 2003.

See Annex V Vaccination Table.

### 47. What schedules do you follow, including times of re-vaccination? The area where the Systematic FMD Vaccination Program is implemented includes all the provinces located in the north of Rio Negro and Neuquen rivers. A regionalization strategy is applied according to the ecological features, production forms and structures, trading modes and circuits and movement flows of each region. Applying these premises the following regions were established:

Central Region: Buenos Aires, Chaco, Cordoba, Formosa, La Pampa, Santiago del Estero, San Luis and Santa Fe. Mesopotamia Region: Entre Rios, Corrientes and Misiones. NOA Region: Salta, Jujuy, Catamarca and Tucuman. Cuyo Region: La Rioja, San Juan and Mendoza. Northern Patagonia A Region: Rio Negro, Neuquen and Patagones district (Province of Buenos Aires). (In the province of Rio Negro 

### animals are only vaccinated in Gral. Roca, Pichi Mahuida, Choele Choel, Conesa, Avellaneda and Adolfo Alsina (in a partial way). In the province of Neuquen animals are onfy vaccinated in the Confluencia district.

The strategies that are implemented according to the regions are as follows: Central Region:

### • Central, Mesopotamia and Northern Patagonia A Regions (excepting the districts of R. Lista, Matacos and Bermejo in the province of Formosa): two vaccination campaigns are conducted annually on all bovines.

• NOA (excepting the districts of Gral. San Martin and Rivadavia Banda Norte in the province of Formosa) and Cuyo Regions: two vaccination campaigns are carried out. In the first campaign all bovines are vaccinated. In the second campaign the bovines that are in high prevention holdings are vaccinated, along with the bovines which will be moved.

In these regions, the second vaccination campaign involves only holdings of highest prevention because of the following features: • They are located in adjacent areas to facilities were animals are gathered (slaughterhouses, auctions, etc.). • Holdings with a high number of bovines. • Holdings with an intense dynamics of cattle movement, permanent ingoings and outgoings. • Holdings for bovine fattening.

Geographic, climatic and epidemiological reasons impose this strategy.

a.- Geographic and climatic aspects. • The first period is longer due to the features of the area: rugged regions, foothills of the Andes range and high pealcs.

{: