INDIANAPOLIS (13 March 2001) You are probably aware of the recent Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) epizootic spreading throughout Great Britain. While the disease is not uncommon to many parts of the globe, this most recent occurrence has drawn much media attention and speculation about the likelihood of FMD breaking in the United States.
As part of Indiana's animal agriculture community, you should be aware of the possibility that the FMD virus could be introduced to Indiana or the United States. The highly contagious nature of this disease, combined with the ease and speed of international travel, offers a realistic threat. Despite media attention to the situation in the United Kingdom, FMD presents an on-going threat from nations worldwide. The only continents free of FMD are North America, Australia and Antarctica.
The current situation presents an excellent opportunity to review basic biosecurity measures when returning from international travel. Likewise, all livestock owners should exercise extreme caution when allowing visitors and animals to enter a property, particularly when travel or herd history is unknown or uncertain.
The main concern with Foot-and-Mouth Disease is the similarity of clinical signs to other diseases common to America, including vesicular stomatitis, bovine viral diarrhea, (cattle) foot rot and vesicular exanthema of swine. Laboratory testing is the only definitive means of diagnosing these diseases.
Be aware of the clinical signs of FMD, including vesicles (blisters) on mouth and/or feet, slobbering and lameness. All cloven-hoofed animals are susceptible. Humans and other species, although not infected with the disease, can carry and transmit effective doses of virus particles in their upper respiratory tracts or feet. (NOTE: The disease is not transmissible to humans.)
Please refer to the attached USDA technical bulletin for more information about the disease or visit the USDA's FMD website at www.aphis.usda.gov/oa/fmd/index.html. (The file is a PDF. A viewer can be downloaded from www.adobe.com, if you do not already have it.)
If you notice livestock with any unusual clinical signs or symptoms suggestive of FMD, contact BOAH (toll-free, 877/747-3038; email: animalhealth@boah.state.in.us) or USDA, APHIS-Veterinary Services office (317/290-3300). Both agencies have placed special emphasis in recent years to train staff veterinarians as Foreign Animal Disease Diagnosticians in preparedness for such a disease event. Agency veterinarians are available to answer questions and assist private veterinary practitioners with diagnostics and sample collections. Samples for FMD testing must be submitted to a USDA laboratory for clinical diagnosis.
Early diagnosis is the essential to controlling the rapid spread of this viral disease and minimizing its devastating effects.
USDA Fact Sheet on Foot-and-Mouth Disease (pdf file)
Bret D. Marsh, D.V.M.
Indiana State Veterinarian
Indiana State Board of Animal Health
805 Beachway Drive, Ste. 50
Indianapolis, IN 46224-7785
317/227-0300
FAX: 317/227-0330
email: animalhealth@boah.state.in.us
www.state.in.us/boah
placed at this web site 3/13/01