University of Wisconsin - Extension

The recent outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in Europe has given a whole new meaning to the term "biosecurity" on the farm. Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) virus is one of the most contagious diseases of cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, hogs, goats and deer.

UW-River Falls/Extension veterinarian and animal health specialist Dr. Larry Baumann said, "Most farmers in Wisconsin have never dealt with an animal disease of this magnitude and severity, so it is very important that everyone be extremely vigilant against this animal disease entering the United States."

If you are planning a trip to Europe, especially to England, Scotland, Wales, France or Belgium, or if you plan to host visitors from these countries, precautions must be taken to help prevent the spread of the disease. Farmers are being advised to close their farms to visitors who have been in Europe within one week prior to the farm visit.

Baumann recommends a one-week minimum quarantine period in which travelers returning from Europe or European visitors arriving in Wisconsin have absolutely no contact with domestic animals and stay away from farms and zoos.

The virus can be spread by the wind, people, clothing, or on the tires of vehicles, surviving for long periods on shoes and clothing. It can also be spread by contaminated hay, water and manure. The airborne virus can travel on prevailing winds for up to 40 miles, making containment very difficult. The disease does not pose a health threat to humans, although they can spread it on their clothing and shoes. Disinfection or laundering is necessary to kill the virus.

Dr. Simon Peek, clinician with the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine said, "The predominant means of spread in any FMD outbreak will be the movement of infected animals, feed, byproducts and the vehicles used for their transport to sales, auctions and abattoirs."

"While any animal or animal product can carry the virus, it's easier to control the movement of animals and animal products than to control the movement of people," Baumann said. "It is theoretically possible for a person to be on a farm in Europe one day and walk onto a farm in Wisconsin the next day."

Efforts to control the spread of FMD include a British ban on moving livestock. According to Peek, the outbreak has grown from 30 farms to over 100 in the past week. The United Kingdom has closed public parks and pathways and canceled horse races and other sporting events to curb public use of the countryside. The European Union banned the export of live animals, meat and dairy products.

"These temporary control measures are based on animal health, not food safety," said Barbara Ingham, UW-Madison/Extension food science specialist. "Meat, fresh milk and other food products may carry the virus but are safe for human consumption."

If the FMD virus should spread to the U.S., the disease could spread rapidly because of routine livestock movements. Its economic impact would be widespread and the consequences for animal health would be catastrophic. If the FMD virus occurred on a farm, all animals on the farm and neighboring farms would be destroyed and burned immediately. Since the Feb 20 FMD outbreak in Britain, 48,000 cattle have been slaughtered and 37,000 are scheduled for slaughter with more cases expected.

The U.S. has been free of Foot-and-Mouth Disease since 1929. The disease is still found in parts of Africa, South America, Asia and Europe. To learn more about the disease, visit the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) web site at http://www.aphis.usda.gov or the Web site of the British Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) at http://www.maff.gov.uk.