Q&A: Foot-and-mouth disease

What is foot and mouth disease?

An acute infectious viral disease causing blisters, fever and lameness in animals with hooves. Pregnant animals often abort and dairy cattle may dry up. It is rarely fatal, except in very young animals.

How does it spread?

Foot-and-mouth is a highly contagious virus spread by direct or indirect contact. It can travel many miles by air, in contaminated animal by-products and equipment, or through third-party contact. It takes between 24 hours and 10 days for symptoms to show.

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Can humans get it?

Until a suspected case in Cumbria in April 2001, there had been only one recorded case of a human developing foot-and-mouth disease in Britain -- this was in 1966 with very mild symptoms. It mainly affects cattle, sheep, pigs and goats with elephants, rats and hedgehogs also susceptible.

What can be done?

Heat, sunlight and disinfectants destroy the virus. There is a vaccine but its use is against EU policy. Currently infected herds must be destroyed and affected areas isolated.

Why such drastic action?

Foot-and-mouth disease is mainly an economic rather than safety issue. There is no known cure and a widespread outbreak could cause massive production losses.

Which other countries suffer it?

The last major foot-and-mouth outbreak in Europe was in Greece in 2000. The disease is endemic in parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America with sporadic outbreaks elsewhere.

UK meat exports banned
February 21, 2001

Disease information : Foot and mouth disease (MAFF, UK)
Foot and Mouth Disease Precautions

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