Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Foot-and-Mouth Disease Latest News

After around 60 years, a serotype of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is being reported again in parts of Europe and the Middle East.  

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
  • It 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: IE

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