Foot and Mouth Disease: Questions and Answers
by John Paterson, MSU Extension Beef Specialist
European livestock producers are currently facing two diseases. The first is BSE (often called mad cow) and the second is foot and mouth disease (FMD). While the risk of BSE exposure in the U.S. is presently very remote, it is considered to be a food safety issue. Though FMD is not considered a human food safety issue, it has had huge economic consequences for livestock producers because of lowered animal productivity. The following information was summarized from the web site sponsored by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (www.beef.org). If you have additional questions about FMD control measures in Montana, please do not hesitate to contact your county agent, state beef Extension specialists or the Montana Department of Livestock.
Q: What is foot and mouth disease?
A. Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease that does not affect humans but has devastating effects on animals with cloven hooves, such as cattle, swine, sheep, goats and deer. The U.S. has not had a case of foot–and–mouth disease since 1929, and that occurrence was contained and eradicated quickly. There are seven types of the FMD virus, all of which have similar symptoms. Immunity to one type does not protect animals from other types. The average incubation period for FMD is between three and eight days, but it can be up to two weeks in some cases. The disease is rarely fatal, but may kill very young animals. Those that survive are often debilitated and experience severe loss in milk or meat production. FMD does not affect humans, although people can carry the virus on clothing and other surfaces.
Q. What are the symptoms of FMD?
A. The most obvious signs of the disease in animals are excessive slobbering, going off feed and lameness. Affected animals may have a sudden rise in temperature, followed by blisters in the mouth or other areas of tender skin such as udders in females, nostrils and on the feet particularly near the hooves. Soft tissues under the hoof are often inflamed, and the animal can become lame and may even shed its hooves. Eating becomes painful, and many animals go off feed, causing weight loss, declined milk production for dairy cattle and goats, and declined meat production. In some cases, affected animals can suffer from sterility, chronic lameness, aborted pregnancies and chronic mastitis.
Q. How does the disease spread?
A. Foot–and–mouth disease is a highly contagious virus and can be spread by movement of infected animals or contaminated vehicles, and by contaminated facilities used to hold animals. It also can infect animals through contaminated hay or feedstuffs and if susceptible animals drink from a common water source. While FMD is not considered a threat to human health, people who come in contact with the virus can spread it to animals through clothing, footwear or other equipment/materials. The virus can harbor in the human nasal passages for as long as 28 hours. Wind also can spread the virus through the air.
Q. Can people contract foot–and–mouth disease?
A. Foot–and–mouth disease typically does not affect humans. There is only one recorded case from Britain in 1966, and that person experienced symptoms similar to the flu with some blisters. People can, however, spread the virus to animals because it can persist on contaminated clothing, footwear, and other materials for several weeks.
Q. If foot–and–mouth disease rarely kills animals, and if people can’t contract the virus, why is there so much concern?
A. Foot–and–mouth disease is a very contagious virus, with nearly 100 percent of exposed animals ultimately becoming infected. If the disease grew to be widespread in any country, the economic impact could be severe. The most serious effects would include severe decline in milk from dairy cattle and goats, decline in meat production, possible sterility of animals, chronic lameness and chronic mastitis among affected.
Q. Is there a treatment or cure?
A. The virus can be killed by heat, low humidity and some disinfectants. It is rarely fatal to animals but may kill very young animals. There is no cure, and the virus usually runs its course in two to three weeks with most animals recovering. However, affected animals can become debilitated and suffer loss of milk or meat production.
Q. Is foot–and–mouth disease present in U.S. cattle herds?
A. No. The U.S. has not had a case of foot–and–mouth disease since 1929, which was contained and eradicated quickly. The U.S. Department of Agriculture regularly monitors for any disease among U.S. cattle herds and takes aggressive steps to prevent FMD from spreading to the U.S. whenever there is an outbreak in other countries.
- As part of its ongoing surveillance program, the USDA conducts hundreds of field inquires each year in an effort to detect animal diseases that might affect livestock.
- When there is an outbreak of FMD in another country, the U.S. temporarily prohibits the importation of animals and animal products from that country. These restrictions augment those already in place on ruminant products to prevent the introduction of BSE into the U.S.
- The government also prohibits travelers from carrying into the U.S. any agricultural products, particularly animal products that could spread FMD. Passengers are required to identify any farm contact to customs and USDA officials. All baggage is subject to inspection. Violations could result in penalties of up to $1,000.
- A team of experts (40 federal, state and university officials) is sent to the European Union or other country with an outbreak to monitor, evaluate and assist in containment efforts.
- There is heightened alert at ports of entry and airports to ensure passengers, luggage and cargo are checked appropriately. This includes placing additional inspectors and dog teams at airports to check incoming flights and passengers.
- USDA officials also are stationed worldwide to monitor and coordinate with the state agriculture officials.
- USDA recently initiated an aggressive public education campaign that includes additional signage in airports, public service announcements, website, and other tools to inform the public about this important issue and steps they can take to prevent it from entering the United States. The USDA also recently established an 800 number to respond to questions from the public, industry and media about the foot-and-mouth outbreak in Europe.
Q. What can beef producers in the U.S. do to help prevent foot–and–mouth disease?
A. While there are currently no cases of foot–and–mouth disease in the U.S., there are several steps producers can take to help prevent the virus from spreading if
- Know who is on your farms/ranches/property at all times. If people from other countries where confirmed cases of FMD have been found are scheduled to visit your property, make sure they wear freshly cleaned clothing and footwear.
- Make sure people wash their clothes and footwear before traveling to a
- Immediately contact your state veterinarian, state or federal animal disease control centers or your country agricultural agent if y
Q. What can consumers do to help prevent foot-and-mouth disease from
- All international travelers coming into the U.S. must state on their Customs declaration form whether or not they have been on a farm or have been in contact with livestock.
- Any soiled footwear must be disinfected with detergent and bleach.
- Dirty clothing must be washed and disinfected prior to returning to
- All international travelers also must declare if they are bringing any meat or dairy products into the U.S. USDA officials will then inspect baggage of those travelers and confiscate products from swine and ruminants (cattle, sheep, goats, deer and other cloven–hoofed animals), with the exception of hard cheeses and canned products
- If travelers are around livestock in the UK and other affected countries they should avoid contact with susceptible animals for at least five days after returning to the U.S.
Q. Is the meat or milk from affected animals also contaminated?
A. Uncooked meat and some types of milk products from contaminated animals can carry the virus. However, since the virus does not affect humans and would be destroyed when products are cooked, the primary risk of raw products is transmission of the virus to susceptible animals.
Q. With so much attention to diseases like foot-and mouth disease and BSE, should consumers stop eating beef for a while?
A. The U.S. remains free of BSE and FMD, so U.S. consumers can continue to enjoy their favorite beef dishes. Neither disease has been detected here in the U.S., and it’s not for a lack of looking. Raising healthy cattle is key to the livelihood of America’s one million beef producers. And, market research tells us the confidence of U.S. consumers in the safety of U.S. beef products remains very strong.