Foot and Mouth Disease

Foot and Mouth Disease Latest News

Recently, the Government of Gujarat has launched an intensive statewide vaccination campaign to control the spread of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

About Foot and Mouth Disease

• It is a highly contagious viral infection that affects cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, buffaloes, sheep and goats.
• Cause: It is caused by an Aphthovirus of the family Picornaviridae.
• Symptoms

• • FMD is characterised by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves.
  • The disease causes severe production losses, and, while the majority of affected animals recover, the disease often leaves them weakened and debilitated. 
  • The disease is rarely fatal in adult animals, but there is often high mortality in young animals due to myocarditis.
• It is a transboundary animal disease (TAD) that deeply affects the production of livestock and disrupts regional and international trade in animals and animal products.
• Intensively reared animals are more susceptible to the disease than traditional breeds.
• Transmission: It is transmitted through
  • Infected animals newly introduced into a herd (carrying virus in their saliva, milk, semen, etc.); 
  • Contaminated pens/buildings or contaminated animal transport vehicles; 
  • Contaminated materials such as hay, feed, water, milk or biologics; 
  • Contaminated clothing, footwear, or equipment; 
  • Virus-infected meat or other contaminated animal products (if fed to animals when raw or improperly cooked); 
• Treatment: Vaccination is the only effective preventive measure against FMD.

Source: DD News

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