Foot and Mouth Disease | National Invasive Species Information Center

Scientific Name

Family Picornaviridae, genus Aphthovirus (Belsham 1993)

Common Name

Foot and mouth disease, hoof-and-mouth disease

Native To

First observed in 1514 in Italy (AVMA 2007)

Date of U.S. Introduction

Nine outbreaks of foot and mouth disease occurred in the U.S. between 1905 and 1929. It is widespread through the world, but it was eradicated from the U.S. in 1929. (Segarra and Rawson 2001)

Means of Introduction

Contact with infected animals (CFSPH 2007); eating infected meat (Segarra and Rawson 2001)

Impact

Contagious disease of cattle, swine, sheep, goats, deer, and other cloven-hoofed animals. Foot and mouth disease is considered to be the most economically devastating livestock disease in the world, and represents a worst-case scenario for livestock diseases because of the variety of species involved, rapid spread, and difficulty in controlling outbreaks. The 2001 FMD outbreak in Great Britain resulted in the slaughter of more than 6 million animals and an estimated economic loss of 20 billion dollars. (AVMA 2007)

Current U.S. Distribution

Not currently established

Infrared image of a cow infected with foot-and-mouth-disease virus. Note that the hooves are red. Red color in the hooves indicates heat

Credit

Photo by Craig Packer; USDA, ARS, Image Gallery

Source

USDA, ARS, Image Gallery

Find more images

Spotlights

USDA Under Secretary Jenny Lester Moffitt Visits Mexico to Celebrate 75 Years of Mexico-U.S. Commission for Prevention of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Other Exotic Animal Diseases
- May 25, 2022
- USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny L. Moffitt commemorates the 75th anniversary of the Mexico-U.S. Commission for Prevention of Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Other Exotic Animal Diseases (CPA). To celebrate this occasion, Mexico’s National Agro-Alimentary Health, Safety, and Quality Service (SENASICA) hosted a celebration in Mexico City. This binational Commission, established in 1947, was instrumental in eradicating foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in Mexico and preventing introduction to the United States. FMD was eradicated from the United States in 1929, and Mexico has been FMD-free since 1954. This celebration honors the longevity and success of this collaboration between the United States and Mexico.
Animal Pests and Diseases - Foot-and-Mouth Disease
- Australian Government. Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
- In May 2022, an outbreak of FMD was reported in cattle in Indonesia and has since spread to Bali. An incursion of the virus would have severe consequences for Australia’s animal health and trade. The emergence and rapid spread of FMD in Indonesia has changed the risk profile for passengers and goods arriving in Australia. As result Australia has strengthened its border activities and new measures were immediately imposed to help prevent an incursion.
Foot-and-Mouth Disease and a Collaborative Response from the U.S. and Mexico
- USDA. ARS. National Agricultural Library.
- This Story from NAL's Collection invites readers to appreciate the complex history of foot-and-mouth disease and the relationship between the United States and Mexico. It briefly chronicles the 1946-1954 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Mexico and how the United States and Mexican governments worked together to eradicate the disease.

Federally Regulated

Foot-and-mouth Disease, Newcastle Disease, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever, Swine Vesicular Disease, And Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy: Prohibited And Restricted Importations
- U.S. Government Printing Office. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations.
- Title 9: Animals and Animal Products, Part 94

All Resources

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Selected Resources

The section below contains highly relevant resources for this species, organized by source.

Partnership

European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD)
- UN. Food and Agriculture Organization.
Invasive Species Compendium - Foot-and-mouth disease in ruminants
- CAB International.

Federal Government

Livestock and Poultry Disease - Foot and Mouth Disease
- USDA. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
- See also: Foot-and-Mouth Disease Emergency Response for more information

State and Local Government

Animal Health - Foot-and-Mouth Disease
- North Dakota Department of Agriculture.

Academic

Animal Disease Information - Foot and Mouth Disease
- Iowa State University. Center for Food Security and Public Health.

Citations

American Veterinary Medical Association. 2007. Foot and Mouth Disease Backgrounder [PDF, 28 KB].
Belsham, G.J. 1993. Distinctive features of foot-and-mouth disease virus, a member of the picornavirus family; aspects of virus protein synthesis, protein processing and structure. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology 60(3):241-260.
Center for Food Security and Public Health. 2007. Foot and Mouth Disease: Fiebre Aftosa [PDF, 309 KB]. Iowa State University.
Segarra, A.E. and J.M. Rawson. 2001. Foot and Mouth Disease: A Threat to U.S. Agriculture [PDF, 41 KB]. (CRS Report for Congress RS20890). Congressional Research Service.