College of Veterinary Medicine

University of Minnesota

Foot-and-Mouth Disease
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.

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
For the most up-to-date information, including travel guidelines and product restrictions, call the U.S. Department of Agriculture at 1-800-601-9327 and push #2 for FMD, or visit their website at www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/fmd/index.html
Centers for Disease Control information for travelers: www.ded.gov/travel/other/fmd-europe-mar2001.htm