Foot-and-mouth disease

Foot-and-mouth disease


Foot-and-mouth disease is a highly contagious viral disease which affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, and deer. Though rarely fatal, it is extremely debilitating and may cause devastating losses in milk and meat production. Although humans are frequently exposed to foot-and-mouth disease through contact with livestock, human illness is extremely rare. The symptoms in humans, when they occur, are typically mild and may include fever, sore throat, and uncomfortable tingling blisters in the mouth and on the hands and feet. Recovery usually occurs within a week.

Although foot-and-mouth disease poses no significant threat to humans, people may spread the disease if their clothing, shoes, or personal effects become contaminated. Travelers may find that, in a country where an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease is occurring, travel is restricted to prevent further spread of the disease. For recommendations to prevent travelers from spreading the disease to animals in the United States