By Barbara J. Andrews

Foot and Mouth or as it's called in the States, Hoof and Mouth disease is an acutely infectious virus disease causing fever, followed by blisters which are evidenced primarily in the mouth and on the feet.

It is said to be more infectious than any other disease affecting animals although dog people would challenge that and point to corona virus which is also airborne and spreads rapidly through a kennel. Hoof and mouth affects cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats. Also at risk are any wild split or cloven-hoofed animals as well as elephants, hedgehogs and rats.

In early March 2000 it was reported in France where quarantine is being strictly enforced as is any importation of beef or pork to the States from Europe.  There was also a brief mention that it had been confirmed in Alabama.

The virus can be airborne and under certain climatic conditions it may spread over a large area. It is particularly virulent and found in great quantity in the fluid from the blisters, and can also occur in the saliva, exhaled air, milk and dung of the animals. Any of these can be a source of infection to other stock. At the height of the disease, virus is present in the blood and all parts of the body. It is destroyed by heat, sunlight and disinfectants but it will remain alive in cold weather and dark areas and under the right conditions, it can survive for long periods although it is probably not as indestructible as parvo virus.

Animals become infected by contact with an infected animal, or by contact with foodstuffs or other things which have been contaminated. Indirect contact includes airborne contact with infected feed which may be contaminated by an infected animal or by eating or coming into contact with some part of an infected carcass. The virus may spread by being picked up on the wheels of vehicles or on the soles of shoes and in that regard, dog people know that disinfection is vital.

We are told that people who take care of diseased livestock can spread the virus and that it can indeed be carried and spread by dogs and cats.

This is not the first time that the U.K. has seen outbreaks. It is believed that previous outbreaks were brought in by airborne carriage of the virus under favorable climatic conditions. Imported meat, infected with the virus, may also be a source of infection.

There have been unconfirmed reports of mad cow disease in the states and that it is being called “wasting disease” in herds of Elk and Moose that have been destroyed in the Rocky Mountain states. Speculation is that it has spread to wild herds as a result of them feeding from the same commercial feeds as are put out for the hoof stock on game preserves stocked for the purpose of hunting.

Heat destroys Foot and Mouth disease but the mad cow disease is said to be impervious to heat which is why cooking the beef does not destroy the spores.

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