Myanmar announces first foot-and-mouth-disease-free zone

http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90777/90851/6582497.html

February 01, 2009


The Myanmar livestock authorities has announced Kawthoung area in southern Myanmar's Tanintharyi division, one of the three targeted zones, as the first foot-and-mouth-disease-free zone, the local weekly Yangon Times reported in this week's issue published on Saturday.

Starting from 2005, Myanmar has been carrying out a campaign to control the disease in three main areas of the division under a foot-and-mouth eradication program of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The three main targeted areas are Kawthoung, Myeik and Dawei, of which Myeik ranked as the disease-controlled zone and Dawei rated as the buffer zone, the report said, quoting the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department.

Meanwhile, Myanmar has been placing emphasis on control of trans-border animal diseases, introducing animal quarantine laboratories in border trading areas with neighboring countries.



In cooperation with Thailand and China, animal quarantine labs in areas such as Myawaddy, kawthoung, Muse, Lashio, Kengtung and Myitkyina, where border trade activities are carried out, are being respectively established.

These labs will help transfer information speedily and test the safety of live animals and animal byproducts intended for export and import through border trade, experts said.

Besides, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) also provided aid worth of 102 million Japanese yens (about 829,000 U.S. dollars) to Myanmar last year to help the country fight five animal diseases including avian influenza by setting up laboratories, exchanging information and conducting refresher courses for the diseases control, earlier report said.

Source:Xinhua