FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE

WHAT IS FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE?
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a disease of cloven-hoofed animals pigs, cows, sheep and deer. It is caused by a virus, which can spread among animal herds through the air, through contaminated feed or water, and through contaminated holding facilities, vehicles and clothing. The virus remains infectious for long periods of time in the soil and other contaminated areas. It is a highly contagious virus, and in some areas the infection rate of herds can reach 100%. There are at least seven separate types and many subtypes of the FMD virus. Immunity to one type does not protect an animal against other types.

HOW DOES IT SPREAD?
FMD viruses can be spread by animals, people, or materials that bring the virus into physical contact with susceptible animals. An outbreak can occur when:

• People wearing contaminated clothes or footwear or using contaminated equipment pass the virus to susceptible animals.
• Animals carrying the virus are introduced into susceptible herds
• Contaminated facilities are used to hold susceptible animals.
• Contaminated vehicles are used to move susceptible animals.
• Raw or improperly cooked garbage containing infected meat or animal products is fed to susceptible animals.
• Susceptible animals are exposed to materials such as hay, feedstuffs, hides, or biologics contaminated with the virus.
• Susceptible animals drink common source contaminated water.
• A susceptible cow is inseminated by semen from an infected bull.

WHY IS FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE IMPORTANT?
FMD outbreaks can cause extreme economic losses for infected areas. Although many animals survive infection, there are serious consequences. The disease is characterized by fever and blister-like lesions followed by erosions on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the hooves. Due to painful blisters and lesions in the mouth, infected animals loose weight and often never gain it back. Many affected animals recover, but the disease leaves them debilitated. It causes severe losses in the production of meat and milk. Because it spreads widely and rapidly and because it has grave economic as well as clinical consequences, FMD is one of the animal diseases that livestock owners dread most.

HOW DO YOU GET RID OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE?
The virus can be killed off by heat, low humidity, or some disinfectants. It is only rarely fatal, although it is more likely to kill very young animals. There is no cure for the disease, and it usually runs its course in 2 or 3 weeks with most animals recovering, although some animals take up to 6 months to fully recover.

SINCE IT IN ONLY RARELY FATAL IN MOST ANIMALS, WHY IS THERE SO MUCH EFFORT TO GET RID OF IT?
Foot and Mouth disease is so extremely contagious that nearly 100 percent of exposed animals become infected after exposure. If the disease became widespread in any country there would be disastrous economic consequences. For example, the most serious effects of the disease in dairy cattle are loss of milk and yield.

WHAT IS THE HISTORY OF FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE IN THE U.S.?
While FMD has been a global problem for many decades, the U.S. has been free of FMD since 1929, when the last of nine U.S. outbreaks was eradicated

WHAT SHOULD TRAVELERS DO IF THEY ARE PLANNING TO VISIT A FARM OR ARE IN CONTACT WITH LIVESTOCK WHILE ABROAD?
Anyone traveler who enters the United States is required declare if they have been on a farm or in contact with livestock and if they are bringing any meat or dairy products from their travels back with them. Officials should inspect the baggage of all travelers who indicate they have been on a farm or in contact with livestock. Footwear must be disinfected with detergent and bleach if it appears contaminated. If travelers are around livestock in the UK and they have livestock at home in the United States, they should avoid contact with their animals for 5 days after returning. In addition, soiled clothing must be washed and disinfected prior to returning to the United States.

WHAT IS THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) DOING TO PROTECT THE UNITED STATES FROM FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE?
In order to protect U.S. livestock from the introduction of FMD, USDA implemented an interim rule on February 21, prohibiting or restricting the importation into the United States of live swine and ruminants and any fresh swine or ruminant meat (chilled or frozen) or products from Great Britain or Northern Ireland. As a result of the recent outbreak, the U.S. has restricted the importation of all livestock, fresh meat and unpasteurized dairy products from Europe.

IS FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE A HUMAN HEALTH RISK?
It is not believed to readily affect humans. The disease has no implications for the human food chain. There is no danger to human health from eating or drinking products from infected animals. There has been only one recorded human case of FMD. In that one human case, the virus caused a minor, flu-like illness in a person in Great Britain in 1966. What's important to note, however, is that although humans are not usually infected, they can carry the virus and infect other animals. The virus is easily transmitted by contaminated shoes and can remain in the nasal passages of exposed individuals for as long as 28 hours.