Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Foot-and-mouth disease, or as it is more appropriately called, hoof-and-mouth disease, since it affects cloven-footed animals such as pigs, sheep, goats, and cattle, is an untreatable disease. It has been a major concern for farmers and international organizations alike, as epidemics have been spread through large-scale trade.

Symptoms

• Symptoms include blistering around the mouth and snout as well as the hoof area, lack of appetite, fever, reduced milk production and a number of other ailments. Death is unusual but may occur in the young or weak.

Disease Transmission

• The disease is usually contracted through inhalation. An animal may also contract the disease through ingesting a large amount of infected food or other material. Other means of transmission include direct contact through the eye, uterus, nose or udder.

Prevention

• Hoof-and-mouth disease is prevented through vaccination. However, even vaccinated animals may be infected by certain strains. In order to prevent the introduction of hoof-and-mouth disease into the U.S., strict regulations govern the importation of livestock/animal products.

Treatment

• There is no known treatment for hoof-and-mouth disease, and the most commonly prescribed "treatment" is the eradication of infected animals and the cleansing of infection sites. Infected corpses are burned or buried.

Economic Losses

• The economic losses of hoof-and-mouth disease are widespread and may become extremely serious if outbreaks are not immediately contained. Aside from the direct losses of animals and animal products, entire industries can be affected on the national and international levels due to trade restrictions and other preventative regulations.