Foot-and-mouth disease

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), sometimes called hoof-and-mouth disease, is a highly contagious but non-fatal viral disease of cattle and pigs. It can also infect deer, goats, sheep, and other animals with cloven hooves, as well as elephants, rats, and hedgehogs. Horses are not susceptible to FMD. Humans are affected only very rarely. The cause of FMD was first shown to be viral in 1897 by Friedrich Loeffler. He passed the blood of an infected animal through a fine porcelain-glass filter and found that the fluid that was collected could still cause the disease in healthy animals.

Related Topics:
Highly contagious - Viral - Disease - Cattle - Pig - Deer - Goat - Sheep - Elephant - Rat - Hedgehog - Horse - 1897 - Friedrich Loeffler - Blood

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FMD occurs throughout much of the world, including parts of Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America. While currently (July 2001) some countries, including Australia, Canada, and the United States have been free of FMD for some time, eradicated from the U.S. in 1929, its wide host range and rapid spread represent cause for international concern. There was an outbreak of FMD in Britain in 2001 which resulted in the slaughter of many animals. Many sporting events and leisure activities like Ten Tors were cancelled. (see 2001 UK foot and mouth crisis for details).

Related Topics:
Europe - Africa - Asia - South America - Australia - Canada - United States - Britain - 2001 - Ten Tors - 2001 UK foot and mouth crisis

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Foot-and-mouth disease, after World War II, was widely distributed throughout the world. In 1996, endemic areas were Asia, Africa, and parts of South America. In South America, Chile is free, and Uruguay and Argentina have not had an outbreak since April 1994. Most European countries have been recognized as free. Countries belonging to the European Union have stopped FMD vaccination. North and Central America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and the British Isles have been free of FMD for many years.

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There are seven different FMD serotypes - O, A, C, SAT-1, SAT-2, SAT-3 and Asia-1. These serotypes show some regionality, and the O serotype is most common.

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