Foot & Mouth Frequently Asked Questions
What is it? Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly infectious viral disease in which fever is followed by the development of vesicles or blisters - chiefly in the mouth or on the feet. There are seven main types of virus, which produce similar symptoms and which can only be identified in the laboratory.
How is it spread? The disease can be spread by direct or indirect contact with infected animals. Infected animals begin by excreting the virus a few days before signs of the disease develop. Pigs in particular produce large numbers of virus particles. It is easily spread in the air, and seems to be able travel quite far (for example, circumstantial evidence strongly suggests that the outbreak on the Isle of Wight in 1981 resulted from the airborne spread of the virus from Brittany in northern France). The disease is also spread mechanically by the movement of animals, persons, vehicles, etc., which have been contaminated by the virus. Meat from the carcass of animals infected with FMD at the time of slaughter can transmit the virus.
Which other countries have recently had FMD? FMD is endemic in parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America, with sporadic outbreaks in disease-free areas. Countries affected by FMD in the past 12 months include Bhutan, Brazil, Columbia, Egypt, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Malawi, Malaysia, Mongolia, Namibia, Russia, South Africa, Taipei, Tajikistan, Uruguay and Zambia.
Can people contract the disease? Only very rarely. There has only been one recorded case of FMD in a human being in Great Britain (in 1966). The general effects of the disease in that case were similar to influenza with some blisters. It is a mild, short-lived, self-limiting disease in people. The Food Standards Agency has advised that the disease has no implications for the human food chain.
Which animals are susceptible? Cattle, sheep, pigs and goats are susceptible and some wild animal such as hedgehogs, rats, deer and zoo animals including elephants.
What are the symptoms? Vesicles (blisters) in the mouth or on the feet and other symptoms which vary somewhat but may be:
- cattle: fever, dullness, off feed, shivering, reduced milk yield and sore teats in milking stock, slavering, tenderness of feet or lameness;
- sheep and goats: fever, lameness, stiff-legged walk, off colour, tendency to lie down;
- pigs: fever, lameness, dullness, off feed.
What kinds of virus are there? There are seven main types: O, A, C, SAT.1, SAT.2, SAT.3, and Asia 1. Within each type there are many sub-types, e.g., O1 and A22. The average incubation period is 3-8 days, but it can be shorter or may extend to 14 days or longer. It has been confirmed that the virus responsible for the present outbreak is the highly virulent pan-Asiatic O type. When animals recover from infection by one type of virus they have little or no protection against attacks by any one of the others.
How is the virus destroyed? By heat, low humidity, or certain disinfectants.
What are the effects of FMD? The disease is rarely fatal, except in the case of very young animals, which may die without showing any symptoms. All affected animals lose condition and secondary bacterial infections may prolong convalescence. The most serious effects of the disease are seen in dairy cattle. Loss of milk yield, abortion, sterility, chronic mastitis, and chronic lameness are commonplace.
Can FMD be cured? No. It usually runs its course in 2 or 3 weeks after which the great majority of animals recover naturally. The justification for slaughter is that widespread disease throughout the country would be economically disastrous due to the effects already noted above.
Thanks to MAFF, UK
Contact for Enquiries
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
Pastoral House
25 The Terrace
PO Box 2526, Wellington
Tel: +64 4 894 0100
Fax: +64 4 894 0720
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