Posted 3/28/01 United States officials extremely wary of continued spread of Foot & Mouth disease Though it is not considered a health hazard for humans, foot-and-mouth disease can be absolutely devastating to the animal agriculture economy. Thatís why the disease is getting so much attention from animal health officials around the world, according to veterinarian Scott Haskell of the University of Minnesota Extension Service. Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious disease that affects cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, buffalo, deer, and some zoo animals such as elephants and giraffes. The disease causes fever and blisters on the muzzle, teats and feet of infected animals, and can cause death in young animals. Clinical signs are more severe in dairy cattle and swine than in sheep and goats. The United States, Canada, Australia, Japan, Indonesia and Korea are free of foot-and-mouth disease. However, the disease is present in many countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. ěThe disease is caused by a virus,î says Haskell. ěThe virus is easily killed in the environment. However, it will survive for a considerable time in animal proteins such as meat and milk.î Animals pick up the disease through direct contact with the virus. Infection usually begins and builds up in the respiratory tract. Infected animals breathe out large volumes of the virus in aerosol form, and milk, feces, saliva and urine contain the virus. In aerosol form the airborne disease can spread a considerable distance, especially when humidity is above 60 percent. Haskell says milk tankers can spread the disease from farm to farm, and feeding infected meat meal is a common source of contamination. Pigs which eat infected feed can spread the disease to cattle. Spread of the disease by birds is considered unlikely. Cattle that have recovered can carry and shed the virus for up to two and a half years, and sheep for up to nine months. The disease can survive in dry fecal material for 14 days in summer, in slurry for six months in winter, in urine for 39 days and on the soil for up to 28 days. When an animal is newly infected, there is an incubation period of 2-14 days before symptoms show up. After the incubation period, a fever of 106 degrees develops. The animal goes off feed and salivates, and blisters form on the mouth, teats and feet. An ELISA lab test is used for diagnosis by veterinarians. Diagnosis through symptoms is complicated because the disease symptoms are not entirely unique. ěControl of the disease involves limitation on animal movement, quarantines and tracing back to the source of an outbreak,î says Haskell. Persons going overseas should not visit farms or livestock processing plants or carry any animal or plant products home. Itís also a good idea to wear disposable shoes. ©Post Review