Taipei, Jan. 5 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian said Wednesday that Taiwan will become a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) -free country without the need for vaccination if no cases are reported by this May.
Chen made the remarks while meeting with Herbert Schneider, chairman of the World Veterinary Association, who is visiting Taipei.
The president said he was very happy to meet with the chief of the 142-year-old world veterinary organization on the eve of Taiwan's 33rd Veterinarians Day.
He told his guest that Taiwan was declared a vaccine-using FMD-free country in May 2003. So long as no FMD cases are reported by May, Chen said, Taiwan will be upgraded to the rank of a non-vaccine-using FMD-free country.
Over the past half-century, Chen said, the Republic of China government, veterinarians and ordinary citizens have made concerted efforts to combat animal diseases. "In 1950, Taiwan managed to eliminate rinderpest or cattle plague, while rabies has been eliminated since 1959, " Chen said, adding that Taiwan has also made remarkable achievements in prevention of avian flu outbreaks, foodstuff hygiene inspection as well as plant and animal quarantine.
Taiwan joined the World Veterinary Association in 1986. "We have since played an active role in the organization and have participated in various international animal disease-control activities, " Chen said.