for several months under the right conditions.

Time,
Foot-and-Mouth Disease extreme temperatures, and pH changes will inactivate
(i.e., kill) the virus.
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a severe and highly
contagious viral disease. The FMD virus causes illness in
There are 7 known types and more than 60 subtypes of
cows, pigs, sheep, goats, deer, and other animals with
the FMD virus. Immunity to one type does not protect an
divided hooves. It does not affect horses, dogs, or cats.
animal against other types or subtypes.
FMD is not a public health or food safety threat. It is also
not related to hand, foot, and mouth disease, which is a
common childhood illness caused by a different virus.
How Does FMD Spread?
FMD is a worldwide concern as it can spread quickly and FMD can spread when infected animals bring the virus
cause significant economic losses. While many countries into physical contact with susceptible animals (i.e.,
across the globe are dealing with FMD in their livestock divided hoof animals). An outbreak can also occur when
populations, the United States eradicated the disease susceptible animals:
here in 1929. As part of our mission to safeguard Are held in contaminated facilities;
American agriculture, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Are moved in contaminated vehicles;
Service (APHIS) works to ensure the continued health of Are fed raw or improperly cooked food waste
our Nation’s livestock. These efforts include preventing containing infected meat or animal products;
FMD from reentering the country. Have contact with people wearing contaminated
clothes or shoes or using contaminated equipment;
What Is FMD?
Are exposed to contaminated materials such as hay,
Animals with FMD typically have a fever and blisters on feed, hides, or biologic products;
the tongue and lips, in and around the mouth, on the Drink contaminated water; or
mammary glands, and around the hooves. These blisters,
Are inseminated with semen from an infected animal.
called vesicles, pop and turn into red areas called
erosions. Pain and discomfort from the vesicles and
erosions lead to other signs of illness such as depression, Signs of Illness
anorexia, excessive salivation, lameness, and reluctance The best known signs of the disease include vesicles,
to move or stand. Most affected animals will not die from which are similar to blisters, that quickly pop and cause
FMD, but the disease leaves them weakened and unable
erosions in the mouth or on the feet, resulting in
to produce meat and milk the way they did before
excessive salivation or lameness. Because they pop
becoming sick.
quickly, these blisters are not always easy to see.
FMD causes production losses and hardships for farmers
These signs may appear in affected animals during an
and ranchers. It also has serious impacts on livestock
FMD outbreak:
trade—a single detection of FMD will likely stop
international trade completely for a period of time. Since Great increase in body temperature for 2 to 3 days
the disease can spread widely and rapidly and has grave Vesicles that rupture and discharge clear or cloudy
economic consequences, FMD is one of the animal fluid, leaving raw, eroded areas surrounded by ragged
diseases livestock owners dread most. fragments of loose tissue
Sticky, foamy, stringy saliva
What Causes FMD?
Eating less due to painful tongue and mouth blisters
FMD is caused by a virus. After an animal is infected with Lameness with reluctance to move
the virus, the first signs of illness usually appear within 2
to 14 days. Abortions

The virus survives in living tissue and in the breath, saliva, Low milk production in dairy cows
urine, and other excretions of infected animals. It can also Heart disease and death, especially in newborn
survive in contaminated materials and in the environment animals
It will take many months for animals to regain weight lost How You Can Help
during illness. Animals that recover seldom produce the
same amount of milk as before, and conception rates may There are many ways you can support our efforts against
be lower. FMD:
Watch for excessive salivation, lameness, and other
Confusion With Other Diseases signs of FMD in your herd.
Diseases involving blisters show similar signs. As a result, Immediately report any unusual or suspicious signs of
FMD may be confused with other vesicular but less disease to your veterinarian, State or Federal animal
harmful diseases, including vesicular stomatitis, disease control officials, or your county agricultural
bluetongue, bovine viral diarrhea, foot rot in cattle, and agent.
swine vesicular disease. The only way to tell if the vesicles When traveling outside the United States, make sure
are caused by the FMD virus is through laboratory testing. that you do not bring back prohibited animal products
If you observe mouth or feet blisters or other typical or other at-risk materials.
disease signs in your animals, please report them
If FMD appears in your animals, an eradication program
immediately so that the appropriate testing can occur.
will be initiated to protect our Nation’s livestock herd.

Where FMD Occurs Your participation is vital. Both the early recognition of
disease signs and the prompt notification of veterinary
While the disease is widespread around the world, North officials are essential to a successful eradication program.
America, Central America, Australia, New Zealand, Chile, Your early reporting could prevent FMD from becoming
and many countries in Europe do not have FMD. Various established in the United States, or if it does spread,
types of FMD virus have been identified in Africa, South reduce the time and money needed to eliminate it.
America, Asia, and some parts of Europe.
Learn More
Prevention and Control
For more information about FMD, contact APHIS
FMD is one of the most difficult animal diseases to Veterinary Services’ District Offices at 1-866-536-7593.
control. Because the disease occurs in many parts of the Current information on animal diseases and disease
world, there is always a chance of FMD being introduced outbreaks is also available on our website at
into the United States. As a result, many animals and www.aphis.usda.gov.
animal byproducts from areas known to be affected with
FMD face import restrictions or are prohibited entry into
this country.
Livestock animals, including those in the United States,
are highly susceptible to FMD viruses. If an FMD outbreak
occurs here, the disease could spread rapidly to all
regions of the country through routine livestock
movements—unless it is detected early and eradicated
immediately. The economic impact of unchecked FMD
spread could reach billions of dollars in the first year.
Vaccines for FMD are available but must be matched to
the specific type and subtype of virus causing the
outbreak. In the event of an outbreak, animal health
officials will carefully consider use of vaccination. If it
becomes apparent at any point that a “stamping-out”
strategy will not effectively eliminate the disease, we will
immediately consider alternate strategies, including
vaccination. It could then be used to help slow the spread
of the FMD outbreak or to protect specific animals,
depending on the situation.

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