FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE (FMD) (Syllabus: GS Paper 3 – Sci and Tech)

Context: The Union government has decided to establish foot-and-mouth disease-free zones across eight states, including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Gujarat.

Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)

• About: It is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of livestock that has a significant economic impact.
• Affected Species: The disease impacts cattle, swine, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed ruminants but does not affect horses, dogs, or cats.
• Susceptibility: Intensively reared animals are more susceptible to FMD compared to traditional breeds.
• Transboundary Animal Disease: FMD is a transboundary animal disease (TAD) that disrupts livestock production and regional and international trade.
• Human Health: FMD does not pose a threat to human health or food safety and is unrelated to hand, foot, and mouth disease, a different childhood illness.
• Caused by: An aphthovirus from the family Picornaviridae.

• Transmission

oExcretions and Secretions: FMD is present in all excretions and secretions from infected animals.

oAerosol Transmission: A large amount of aerosolized virus is expelled by infected animals, which can infect others via respiratory or oral routes.

oMortality Rates: FMD is rarely fatal in adult animals but can have high mortality rates in young animals.

• Symptoms: FMD is marked by fever and blister-like sores on the tongue, lips, mouth, teats, and between hooves.

oThe disease can cause severe production losses and leave animals weakened even after recovery.

• Official Status Recognition: FMD was the first disease for which the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) established official status recognition.
• Vaccination: Vaccines are available but must be matched to the specific type and subtype of the virus causing the outbreak.