Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease of animals. It is one of the most serious livestock diseases. It affects cloven-hoofed animals (those with divided hooves), including cattle, buffalo, camels, sheep, goats, deer and pigs. It does not affect horses. 

FMD virus is carried by live animals and in meat and dairy products, as well as in soil, bones, untreated hides, vehicles and equipment used with these animals. It can also be carried on people’s clothing and footwear. FMD virus can survive in frozen, chilled and freeze-dried foods including meat and dairy products. 

It is found in many parts of the world, and has been reported in countries in Africa, the Middle East, Asia and South America. While it can cause serious production losses the most significant impact of the disease occurs because of its affect on trade in livestock and livestock products. Countries without the disease, which include many of Australia’s major trading partners, do not import from or severely restrict imports from FMD-infected countries.

There is no threat to human health from this disease. FMD is not the same as hand-foot-and-mouth disease which is a common disease in young children. 

FMD is a viral disease that spreads rapidly between animals. Virus is excreted in breath, saliva, mucus, milk and faeces. The virus can be excreted by animals for up to four days before clinical signs appear. Animals can become infected through inhalation, ingestion and direct contact. The disease spreads most commonly through the movement of infected animals. FMD virus can also be spread on hair, grass or straw; by the wind; or by mud or manure sticking to footwear, clothing, livestock equipment or vehicle tyres.

FMD spreads rapidly from one animal to another, especially in cool, damp climates and/or when animals are penned or housed closely together. The virus survives well at temperatures below 4 degrees Celsius, but is inactivated as temperatures rise. It is also rapidly inactivated at relative humidity less than 60 per cent.

Although FMD impacts all ages it can be particularly lethal in young animals and can cause serious production losses. The clinical signs are fever followed by the appearance of fluid-filled blisters between the toes and on the heels, on mammary glands and especially on the lips, tongue and palate. These blisters often combine to form large, swollen blisters that erupt to leave raw, painful ulcers that take up to 10 days to heal.

Foot lesions leave animals lame and unable to walk to feed or water. Tongue and mouth lesions are very painful and cause animals to drool and stop eating. Adults usually begin eating again after a few days, but young animals may weaken and die, or be left with foot deformities or damage to the mammary glands.

Signs of FMD in cattle include:

• Blisters and ulcers in and around the mouth, nose, teats and feet
• Drooling
• Excessive salivation
• Lameness
• Fever
• Sudden drop in appetite and/or milk production
• Abortion
• Sudden death in young animals

No. Affected animals will recover. Vaccines can protect against the disease but do not necessarily prevent animals from being infected. Vaccination is used in many countries to control the disease in an endemic situation. In order for a country to regain FMD-free status and limit the economic impacts, it is important to eradicate the virus as quickly as possible. Movement controls and removal of infected animals (along with other complementary control measures such as cleaning and disinfection) are essential to eradicate this disease. Vaccination can be an important tool to assist in containing and eradicating FMD, but its use will have trade implications. 

There is no threat to human health from this disease. FMD is not the same as hand-foot-and-mouth disease which is a common disease in young children. Humans can however carry the virus in their nose for up to 24 hours and can be a source of infection for animals. 

Experts believe there is an 11.6% chance of an FMD outbreak in Australia within the next 5 years.

Be aware of the signs of FMD and report anything unusual to the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888

 Look for signs of FMD in cattle including:

• Blisters and ulcers in and around the mouth, nose, teats and feet

• Drooling

• Excessive salivation

• Lameness

• Fever

• Sudden drop in appetite and/or milk production

• Abortion

• Sudden death in young animals

Ensure your farm biosecurity plan is up-to date and that you adhere to traceability obligations

People, vehicles and equipment pose a high biosecurity risk on-farm. Keeping track of visitors, quarantining new stock, and ensuring gear used on multiple farms (e.g. disbudding irons) is cleaned before use is a good starting place in preventing any disease spread. The best defence against pests and diseases is to implement good biosecurity practices and to prepare an on-farm biosecurity plan.

A simple, high-level biosecurity plan is available here: https://www.farmbiosecurity.com.au/toolkit/planner/

Ask your vet for additional or more specific support.

Adhere to all traceability requirements

It is crucial dairy farmers adhere to traceability obligations, including ensuring all documentation is correctly completed. More information on meeting livestock transaction and movement requirements is available here: Livestock Movements | Integrity Systems.

Biosecurity gate signs

Signs can be used to indicate to visitors the importance of following biosecurity procedures on your property. Remember to include contact details in the space provided.

You can purchase biosecurity signs from Animal Health Australia (AHA) here: https://animalhealthaustralia.com.au/shop/.

Upskill and complete EAD training courses

Complete some of the free, online courses offered through AHA, including the EAD Foundations and FMD Awareness courses. More information is available here: https://animalhealthaustralia.com.au/online-training-courses/.

How to prevent bringing Foot-and-Mouth Disease on farm

Australians traveling overseas, including to Indonesia for work or holiday could potentially bring FMD to Australia by accident unless they take appropriate precautions. With Bali being a popular travel destination for Australian tourists, the risk of FMD reaching our shores is currently heightened. Dairy Australia has published preventative guidance, available here: How to prevent bringing Foot-and-Mouth Disease on farm | Dairy Australia

The following will occur if FMD is detected¹:

• Rapid recognition and laboratory confirmation of cases

• Immediate assessment of the epidemiological situation by State and Federal Governments

• Strict movement controls, including an immediate livestock standstill

• Implementation of legislated declared areas for disease control purposes including movement controls and surveillance

• Proactive management of animal welfare issues that arise from the disease or the implementation of disease control measures

• Valuation, destruction and sanitary disposal of infected animals and animal products

• Decontamination of facilities, vehicles, products and objects to limit the spread of the virus

• Tracing and surveillance to determine the source and extent of infection (including, as necessary, in feral animals), and to provide proof-of-freedom

• Surveillance and control of feral animal populations, as appropriate. Hunting may be banned in some areas

• Recalling potentially contaminated animal products (including dairy products for animal consumption, etc.), unless considered unnecessary by a risk assessment

• Relief and recovery programs to minimise animal welfare and human socio-economic issues

• A public information campaign

• Industry engagement to provide technical expertise and improve understanding of the Emergency Animal Disease response process, facilitate cooperation and address animal welfare issues.

Australia has an internationally recognised capability to deal quickly and effectively with Emergency Animal Disease outbreaks. In addition, Australia has a good track record of successfully dealing with outbreaks of disease in its animal populations, such as the 2020 Avian Influenza outbreak. However, an outbreak of FMD could have dimensions significantly greater than anything we have had to deal with in the past.

Australia has in place detailed response plans and a comprehensive whole-of-government approach to managing animal health emergencies that are designed to ensure that resources from a wide range of agencies are available. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry collaborates with the state and territory authorities to coordinate national responses to animal health emergencies.

Government and industry’s state of preparedness is under continuous review and improvements to the national capability are constantly being implemented. The degree of success in dealing with an outbreak will depend on the nature and extent of any outbreak. Early detection and reporting of the disease is vital to reduce its spread.

There is a comprehensive range of plans in place to deal with an emergency disease outbreak. These plans are revised and updated on a regular basis. The Australian Veterinary Plan (AUSVETPLAN) is the central plan for controlling and eradicating an outbreak.

There is also a national relief and recovery coordination framework. This framework sets out roles and responsibilities in dealing with the economic and social impact of a disease outbreak and returning communities to normal after an outbreak.