Vaccination campaigns are "an essential tool for the control and eradication of FMD." But a report from the General Audit Office (AGN, for its acronym in Spanish) found numerous irregularities both in immunization and prevention campaigns and the databases that project the tasks.

In 2001 cases of FMD were detected in several locations and therefore the Plan for the Eradication as part of the National Program for the same purpose was implemented. It is the National Health Service and Food Quality (SENASA, for its acronym in Spanish) the agency responsible for managing the program and its work, between 2011 and the first half of 2012, it was the subject of the audit.

The disease is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cows, sheep, pigs, deer, llamas and vicunas. The virus is transmitted by contact between infected or contaminated objects and does not affect human beings.

Despite the need for vaccination to eradicate the FMD, "there is no evidence of a campaign made by SENASA with posters, on radio or on television."

There are two types of immunization. On the one hand, a systematic one which is executed on a regular schedule in each jurisdiction and on the other, a strategic type which is occasionally performed in certain situations of risk.

The Immunization Act supports the act of immunization and is very important to "upgrade the stock and details of the producer" source information that is put in the Integrated Management System Animal (SIGSA).

On this point, the audit team found numerous irregularities after from visiting different offices. Among the most troubling there are repetitive and "errors in the preparation and registration of the Proceedings" and that "demonstrates the absence of validation controls affecting the drivability of the system." The Watchdog also found some "incomplete, with amendments and deletions." Others said "a vaccinator injected 3000 animals in one day."

To these are added other shortcomings such as "the lack of uniformity in the file and the lack of correlative numbering, differences between records in the minutes and the system, and delays of up to more than ten years."

Knowing the stock of animals is essential to plan and implement vaccination campaigns. Therefore, all the additions, deletions and movements of cattle must be set on the system. However, it was verified that there are duplicate records that show nearly two million animals more than there really are." Formosa is the province where this mostly happens.

It was also noted that there were offices that didn’t have information to justify the stock differences detected.

For all this, the auditors concluded that "SENASA does not have at all times the real stock of animals per producer because they do not report new developments in real time."

Surveillance

To check the effectiveness of vaccination, studies are done on some animals. The AGN observed that "25% of establishments selected by SENASA were not sampled." However, "they were replaced by some who were on the list of substitutes" but "without a written record of the reasons that led to the change or who authorized it."

In addition it was found that "in 67% of cases achieving results exceeded 100 days." The agency justified reporting "problems with diagnostic kits."

The report, approved in November of this year, exposed serious weaknesses in border controls that SENASA must perform. Plus "little or no supervision," as well as "deficiencies in human resources, control and training and lack of infrastructure and the necessary elements to conduct searches" were found.

Leash

So SENASA performs its tasks, it has funds from the Federal Government, perceived by the fines and penalties that apply and collection of taxes, duties and tariffs. The latter is the main source of income. Nevertheless, the report notes that "there are no procedure manuals on the administrative and accounting system.

Indeed, "there are some foundations that perform activities delegated by the body which payment is declared in favor of the same" when in fact "it should be reported as income for SENASA."

On the National Register of Agricultural Producers (RENSPA, for its acronym in Spanish), which aims to "strengthen the health control by centralizing all the information," the AGN said that "there are discrepancies and inconsistencies in the allocation of codes to producers," because the numbers were no longer sufficient they added alpha numeric allocation but "without any formal resolution."

In relation to the Health Authorities, the report states that "35% of them (foundations, rural societies, etc.) are not registered with the Registry of Companies of the relevant Provincial Directorate."