Brazil's Agriculture Ministry on Tuesday confirmed three new foot-and-mouth cases in southern cattle farms as dozens of countries banned Brazilian beef imports.

One incident was found in Eldorado, Mato Grosso do Sul state, where the first foot-and-mouth case was confirmed. Another two incidents were found in Japora, near the Brazilian-Paraguayan border.

Gabriel Maciel, an official from the ministry, told reporters on Tuesday that the government has begun to slaughter the infected cattle in Eldorado.

"As the clinic symptoms were very similar and the estates are nearby, we thought it was better to start slaughtering to prevent the spread of the outbreak," Maciel said.

Mato Grosso do Sul state Governor Jose Orcirio Miranda dos Santos issued a statement Tuesday calling on the federal government to impose severe penalties on ranchers who smuggle cattle from other countries or fail to vaccinate their herds.

Foot-and-mouth disease, which affects sheep, pigs and horses, is a highly contagious viral illness that can be spread through minimal contact with infected animals, meat or farm equipment. The disease can be fatal to animals, but seems not to harm humans.

Last week, Argentina, Chile, Israel, Paraguay, Russia, South Africa and 25 countries of the European Union suspended imports of livestock and meat products from Brazil following the outbreak.

On Monday, Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urged key importers to lift their embargoes on Brazilian meat.

He said in a radio broadcast that he would not let the isolated case harm the Brazilian meat industry and vowed his government will show the international community that health and safety measures in Brazil are efficient.

Brazil, one of the world's leading meat exporters, exported meat worth US$43 billion in 2004.
 
The country's Agriculture and Fishing Federation estimated that the ban could cost Brazil as much as US$1.5 billion over the next two years.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2005)