Hijjah 13, 1431 / Nov. 19, 2010, SPA -- The Americas would eliminate foot-and-mouth disease in less than 10 years, Xinhua quoted World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) chief Bernard Vallat as saying on Thursday. "It is clear that in less than 10 years, the Americas will be a continent free of foot-and-mouth disease without vaccination," Vallat told the press at the 12th Regional Conference of the Americas. He said the fight in the Americas against the highly contagious foot-and-mouth disease, which affects cattle, pigs, deer, and other cloven-hoofed animals, would set an example and "give some encouragement to the continents infested with this disease." Vallat believed the Americas, with political will and necessary resources, can realize eradication of the disease.
