Foot-and-mouth disease, is not dangerous to humans, but it does poses another
economic problem for Europe's cattle industry already suffering from plummeting beef
sales and consumer panic due to mad cow disease. Foot-and-mouth disease strikes cloven-hoofed animals, and in those it does not kill it reduces the production of milk and meat. Its danger is heightened by the ease of its transmission — the virus can be carried for miles by the wind, people or cars, or spread by contaminated hay, water and manure.
What is it?
It is a highly infectious viral disease in which fever is followed by the development of blisters - chiefly in the mouth or on the feet.
There are 7 main types of virus, which produce similar symptoms and which can only be differentiated in the laboratory.How is it spread?
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly infectious disease that can 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.
Airborne spread of the disease takes place readily — the prevailing meteorological conditions and local topography determine the distance that the disease can travel and this may be considerable.
The disease is also spread mechanically by the movement of animals, persons, vehicles and other things, 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 — in the past outbreaks of the disease have been linked with the importation of infected meat and meat products.Which other countries have recently had FMD?
FMD is native to parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America, with sporadic outbreaks in disease-free areas.
Countries affected by FMD in the past twelve months include Butan, Brazil, Columbia, Egypt, Georgia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Malawi, Malaysia, Mongolia, Namibia, Russia, South Africa, Taipei, Tajikstan, Uruguay and Zambia. The last major outbreak of the disease in the EU was in Greece last year.Can people contract the disease?
It is very rare — there has only been one recorded case of FMD in a human being in Great Britain in 1966.
There is a human condition called Hand, Foot and Mouth disease, which is unrelated.Which animals are susceptible?
Cattle, sheep, pigs and goats are susceptible and some wild animal such as hedgehogs, coypu, rats, deer and zoo animals including elephants.What are the symptoms?
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, enderness of feet or lameness.
SHEEP AND GOATS: Fever, lameness, stiff legged walk, off color, tendency to lie down.
PIGS: Fever, lameness, dullness, off feed.
How is the virus destroyed?
It can be destroyed by heat, low humidity, or certain disinfectants, but it may remain active for a varying time in a suitable medium such as the frozen or chilled carcase of an infected animal and on contaminated objects.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. Can FMD be cured?
There is no cure — it usually runs its course in 2 or 3 weeks after which the great majority of animals recover naturally.
The justification of the slaughter policy is that widespread disease throughout Europe would be economically disastrous.