The number of foot and mouth disease vaccines sold in Brazil leaves little doubt that the country is serious about controlling the problem.
In the first half of this year slightly over 166 million vaccines were sold. The trade association for Animal Health Products says it believes the total will rise to 360 million by the end of the year.
For the sake of comparison, in 2004, a total of 348 million foot and mouth disease vaccines were sold in Brazil.
The Ministry of Agriculture reports that so far its annual vaccination campaign has reached 98% to 99% of its target in important cattle states such as São Paulo, Tocantins and Mato Grosso.
In September the vaccination campaign moves to Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Ceará and eastern Minas Gerais. In October it will be in Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Amazonas and Roraima.
And the high point of the second half vaccination campaign will be in November in Acre, Rondônia, Mato Grosso, Pará, Amapá, Maranhão, Piauí, Sergipe, Distrito Federal, Goiás, Tocantins, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, São Paulo and western Minas Gerais.
ABr