By Daisy and Marianne

It is caused by foot-and-mouth disease virus. This is a pathogen, which is a disease causing organism which lives by taking nutrition from a host and damaging it in the process.

Infection can spread easily through direct or indirect contact. This can be through movement of humans, animals, vehicles and implements, and through the air, especially in mild zones.

Foot-and-mouth disease is endemic in parts of Asia, Africa, the Middle East and South America with infrequent outbreaks in free areas. Foot-and-mouth disease was last reported in 1929 in the U.S.A., 1952 in Canada, and 1954 in Mexico. There have been a notably high number of outbreaks recently, the most publicised being that in the UK.

Fever (pyrexia) Lack of appetite (anorexia) Reduction in milk production for 2-3 days. The blisters that form in the mouth and nasal cavities make the animal smack its lips, grind its teeth and drool. The blisters that form between the claws cause lameness, stamping and kicking of feet. In sheep and goats the blistering is less pronounced.

Animal movement control through construction of border fences and surveillance of trucks, where roads and railways pass through these borders. Slaughter of infected, recovered, and susceptible contact animals. Disinfection of premises and infected materials (implements, cars, clothes, etc.). Destruction of corpses and susceptible animals products in the infected areas. Quarantine measures. The incubation period is 2-21 days (average 3-8 days) so animals passing out of infected areas would presumably need to be held in quarantine for at least 14 days before the disease could be reliably tested. Vaccination. Tests for foot-and-mouth disease involve testing for antibodies to this disease and as both the real disease and the vaccination lead to the build up of antibodies, vaccinated animals are excluded because of the risk of bringing in animals that actually are infected. However, new tests are currently being developed that will enable differentiation of vaccinated and infected livestock.