RP seen FMD-free by 2005

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan — Cases of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), which afflicts cloven-footed animals, have decreased by about 70 percent since 1995, giving hope for the country to be FMD-free by July 2005.

This optimism was expressed by Dr. Eldrin Morales, deputy head of the National FMD Task Force, who was here last Friday for a dialogue with provincial officials.

Morales said the Visayas, Mindanao, Palawan and Masbate are internationally recognized as FMD-free. Locally, also declared free from the animal disease are Regions 2 (Cagayan Valley) and 5 (Bicol) and the island-provinces of Region 4-B.

He said they are now in the last phase of their campaign to totally eradicate FMD from the country. "Given the considerable gains that we have achieved, we now have the momentum to finally eradicate it," he said.

Morales, however, noted that there is still a high incidence of FMD in Regions 3 (Central Luzon) and 4 (Southern Tagalog), and a few cases in Region 1 (Ilocos) and in the Cordilleras.

He said there were 276 FMD cases in the entire Luzon last year. So far, less than a 100 cases have been recorded this year.

Morales said their target is to put FMD under control this year, and eventually get rid of it before the project funded by the Australian government ends in July 2005.

He said the World Animal Health Organization has classified FMD as an economic disease because it results in tremendous losses just like what happened in 1995.