Foot and Mouth Disease

	Biosecurity Event Biosecurity Farm Biosecurity Student & Staff Biosecurity Vendor Biosecurity Visitor Biosecurity

Background Information
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is highly contagious and affects cattle, swine, sheep, goats, deer, and other cloven-hoofed animals. The disease is characterized by fever and blister-like lesions followed by erosions on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the hooves. Most affected animals recover, but the disease leaves them debilitated causing severe losses in the production of meat and milk. The United States has been free of FMD since 1929. An FMD outbreak in the United States could potentially cost the U.S. livestock industry billions of dollars in losses in the first year. FMD is not considered a public health problem. It is extremely rare for humans to be infected and symptoms are mild when they occur.

The Cause
The disease is caused by a virus, which survives in lymph nodes and bone marrow. The virus can persist in contaminated fodder and the environment for up to one month. There are at least seven separate types and many subtypes of the FMD virus. Immunity to one type does not protect an animal against other types.

How it Spreads
FMD viruses can be spread by animals, people, or materials that bring the virus into physical contact with susceptible animals. This contact can occur through:

• People wearing contaminated clothes or footwear.
  
• Introducing animals carrying the virus into herds.
  
• Using contaminated facilities or vehicles to hold or move susceptible animals.
  
• Feeding animals raw or improperly cooked garbage containing infected meat or animal products.
  
• Exposing animals to materials such as hay, feedstuffs, hides, or biologics contaminated with the virus.
  
• Susceptible animals drinking common source contaminated water.
  
• Inseminating cows with semen from an infected bull.
  
• It is important that travelers NOT bring swine or ruminant products, unpasteurized dairy products, or agriculture products from countries in the
• European Union to the United States.

Policies and Guidelines:

• Protocols for Faculty, Staff, and Students: Guidelines when working with livestock
• Precautions for U of M travelers and foreign visitors returning from FMD-infected countries All staff and faculty should read and sign the document and file with department administrators when traveling abroad. Students should read and file with the Student Affairs Office.
• Farm Visitors Guidelines for visiting farms.
• Public Events Guidelines for conducting public events that involve U of M livestock.
• Vendors and users of research animals Guidelines dealing with issues surrounding contact with and handling of research animals.

For more information:

Minnesota Board of Animal Health: 651-296-2942 or www.bah.state.mn.us
Minnesota Department of Agriculture: 1-800-967-AGRI
U.S. Department of Agriculture website at www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/bse.