The MGAP made the request for funds to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, according to its head, Fernando Mattos.

The minister added that cases are confirmed in coastal areas and in the department of San José, next to this capital.

He assured that Uruguay still has a “relatively low incidence in relation to the equine population”.

However, he remarked that the livestock portfolio carries out controls and periodical reports of the disease.

“Where there are sick horses, the virus is circulating; despite the fact that we have no cases in humans so far, there may be a risk,” he warned.

“We are doing our best to introduce more vaccines. The horse may be protected but the mosquito will continue to be infected, therefore the risk of inoculation of the infected mosquito in humans is still present,” he remarked.

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