Foot-and-Mouth Disease is a severe, highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hooved animals, such as cattle, hogs, sheep, goats and deer. The disease is not a threat to human health.

Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is caused by a virus that survives in the lymph nodes and bone marrow of animals. The virus can live in contaminated fodder (dry hay and other forages) for up to one month. It can also be carried many miles by the wind. There are at least seven different types and many other subtypes of the virus. United States veterinarians do not vaccinate against FMD because of the dangers from its high communicability. It is very difficult to keep animals immune to the disease because immunity to one type of virus does not guarantee immunity to another. Although FMD is not considered a human health risk, humans can carry the virus on their clothing, shoes and body and spread the disease to animals.

Few FMD infected animals die and many recover, but the disease often leaves them debilitated. FMD usually runs its course in two to three weeks. Infected animals will show some of the following clinical signs:

• Blisters appear on the mouth, tongue, lips, teats or between toes (blisters may sometimes not be seen until they rupture). When blisters rupture, either a clear or cloudy fluid is present and raw eroded areas are left where the blister occurred;
• Animals have fluctuating temperatures;
• Sticky, foamy, stringy saliva drips from an animals mouth;
• Painful tongue and mouth lesions cause a decrease in animal appetites, resulting in weight loss;
• Animals show lameness and are reluctant to move; and
• Milk production drops abruptly.

Because most animals don't die from FMD, some questions may be raised as to why there is such a concern. The reason for concern is the high communicability of the disease. If one animal on a farm contracts the disease, it is highly likely that other animals in the herd, and animals in neighboring herds would contract the disease, rapidly spreading an outbreak. If an outbreak were to occur, the livelihood of many farmers is at risk from economic losses due to decreases in milk and meat production (most cattle don't regain their weight and don't produce milk at their normal rates for the remainder of their lactation). Valuable exports would also be lost due to other countries embargoing United States products. In addition if deer or other wildlife were to contract the disease, the outbreak would be much more difficult to eradicate and would be even more widespread.

FMD has been found in Africa, South America, Asia, and parts of Europe. North America, Central America, Australia, New Zealand and some countries in Europe are considered free of FMD. The United States has eradicated nine outbreaks of FMD, the last of which occurred in 1929. Since then, no cases have ever been reported in the United States

FMD was detected in Great Britain in mid-February, and more recently it was found in France and Argentina. Because the virus is so easily spread, other European countries are taking drastic steps to avoid becoming the next to fall victim.

To keep the United States free of FMD, federal and state governments have taken aggressive action. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has been monitoring for FMD for decades. Now, they are on heightened alert and took the following precautionary measures to increase protection of United States cattle:

• In addition to rules already in place to prevent FMD from entering the U.S., on March 13, 2001, the USDA temporarily prohibited the importation of animals and animal products from the European Union into the U.S.;
• The USDA prohibits travelers from carrying in any agricultural products that could spread the disease from other countries into the U.S.;
• The USDA sent 40 federal, state and university officials to the European Union to monitor, evaluate and assist in containment efforts;
• The USDA has increased surveillance at ports of entry at airports and harbors to be sure travelers aren't bringing in items that carry the disease; and
• The USDA began a public education campaign to alert people of the dangers of spreading FMD.

In addition to USDA measures, Minnesota State Veterinarian Dr. Tom Hagerty and Minnesota Agriculture Commissioner Gene Hugoson felt it was important that Minnesotans get involved in the FMD prevention efforts. They recently called upon overseas travelers to take the following preventive steps to protect Minnesota's livestock:

• Anyone traveling to Britain, France or other countries with FMD should avoid going to any farm, zoo or other animal facility in that country if possible;
• Anyone who does visit a farm, zoo or other animal facility in a country with FMD should avoid all farms, zoos and other animal facilities in America for seven days after returning;
• Salami and other meats from FMD-affected countries could harbor the virus, so anyone coming to America from those countries must not bring meat products from those countries into the United States If those products were fed to animals, they could spread the virus to United States livestock;
• Travelers to a country with FMD should also make sure all clothing - including shoes and jackets - are thoroughly washed or dry cleaned upon their return to the U.S.; and
• If anyone has relatives visiting from a foreign country, don't take them to visit farms or zoos for at least seven days.

The participation of all animal producers and international travelers is vital to the success of FMD prevention. These precautions should not be taken lightly. Any introduction of FMD could cost our nation's livestock industry billions of dollars. Federal and state officials stand ready to implement an emergency plan if FMD shows up in America, but there is no guarantee the disease could be stopped in time to prevent a catastrophe for United States farmers.

If you think your animals are displaying the clinical signs of FMD, contact your veterinarian or the Minnesota Board of Animal Health at 651-296-2942 immediately. Or, if you have traveled outside the United States to a country that is known to have FMD, be sure to follow the precautions listed above. If you work on a farm or plan to visit a farm after returning from an overseas trip, be sure to contact the farmer for whom you work or would like to visit, and don't go near his/her livestock for at least seven days. If you have done so and think there is a possibility that you may have carried the disease to a farm, contact the Minnesota Board of Animal Health at 651-296-2942 immediately, so correct monitoring measures can be taken.