Q: What is Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD)?
A: FMD is a highly contagious and economically devastating disease of cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer and other cloven-hooved ruminants. Many affected animals recover, but the disease leaves them debilitated. FMD 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 physical consequences, FMD is one of the animal diseases that livestock owners dread most. The disease does not affect food safety or humans.
Q: What are the potential economic ramifications of an FMD outbreak in the United States?
A: An FMD outbreak in the United States could potentially cost the U.S. livestock industry billions of dollars in
losses in the first year.
Q: Can people get the disease from animals?
A: It is not believed to readily affect humans. The disease has no implications for the human food chain. People, however, can spread the virus to animals because it can remain in human nasal passages for as long as 28 hours.
Q: How do you get rid of Foot and Mouth Disease?
A: 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 two or three weeks with most animals recovering, although some animals take up to six months to fully recover.
Q: If most animals don't die, why go to such great lengths to eradicate it?
A: The disease is highly contagious with nearly 100 percent of exposed animals becoming infected. 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.
Q: What is the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) doing to protect the United States from foot-and-mouth disease?
A: USDA vigilantly and continuously monitors for FMD worldwide. Whenever FMD outbreaks occur, USDA initiates regulatory action to prohibit the importation of live ruminants and swine and many animal products from FMD-affected countries. For more information on this topic, see the APHIS fact sheet "Protecting America from Foot and Mouth Disease and other High-Consequence Livestock Diseases," online at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/animal_health/content/printable_version/fs_fmd_con_07.pdf.
Q: What is USDA doing to prevent travelers from bringing FMD into the United States?
A: USDA prohibits travelers from carrying into the United States any agricultural products that could spread FMD and other harmful agricultural pests and diseases. Accordingly, passengers must declare all food items and other material of plant or animal origin in their possession.
They must also report visits to farms or other livestock facilities. Failure to declare any items may result in delays and fines of up to $1,000. Individuals traveling from European Union countries or other countries considered to be FMD-affected must have their shoes disinfected if they have visited farms or other high risk areas.
Q: What should travelers do if they are planning to visit a farm or are in contact with livestock while abroad?
A: All international travelers must state on their Customs declaration form whether or not 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. APHIS officials will inspect the baggage of all travelers who indicate they have been on a farm or in contact with livestock. Any soiled footwear must be disinfected with detergent and bleach. 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.
Q: Can travelers bring animal products back to the United States from Europe?
A: Any ruminant or swine products (cattle, sheep, goats, deer, and other cloven-hooved animals included), with the exception of hard cheeses and canned products with a shelf life, will be confiscated.
Q: How can farmers support USDA in its efforts to prevent FMD in the United States?
A: As always, farmers can support U.S. efforts against FMD by watching for excessive salivating, lameness and other signs of FMD in their herd and immediately reporting any unusual or suspicious signs of disease to their veterinarian, State or Federal animal disease control officials or their county agricultural agent. Garbage feeders are encouraged to fully cook their feed before giving it to livestock.
Contact:
USDA, APHIS, Veterinary Services
National Center for Emergency Animal Health Management
4700 River Road, Unit 41
Riverdale, MD 20737–1231
Telephone (301) 734–8073
Fax (301) 734–7817
The APHIS Emergency Operations Center
(800) 940–6524
e-mail: emoc@aphis.usda.gov
Current information about Foot and Mouth Disease also is available online at: http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/hot_issues/fmd/fmd.shtml.