Foot-and-Mouth Disease

Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral infection that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and buffalo. The disease is caused by a virus of the genus Aphthovirus within the family Picornaviridae, and spreads rapidly through direct contact between animals, contaminated feed, water, equipment and airborne transmission over short distances. Infected animals develop fever, followed by painful blisters and lesions in the mouth, on the tongue, teats and feet, leading to excessive salivation, lameness and reduced productivity. While the disease rarely causes death in adult animals, it severely impacts milk and meat production, weight gain and draught capacity, resulting in substantial economic losses. Foot-and-mouth disease is endemic in parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and South America, while Europe, North America, Australia and parts of South America have achieved disease-free status through strict biosecurity, vaccination programmes and movement controls. Outbreaks in previously disease-free countries trigger immediate trade bans on livestock and animal products, devastating export markets and rural economies. Control measures include quarantine, movement restrictions, vaccination campaigns using inactivated virus vaccines, and in some cases culling of infected and exposed herds. The World Organisation for Animal Health maintains international standards for disease reporting, zoning and safe trade protocols. Prevention relies on robust biosecurity at farm level, surveillance systems, rapid diagnostic capacity and coordinated veterinary response. Foot-and-mouth disease remains one of the most economically significant livestock diseases globally, shaping international trade rules and national agricultural policy.