Hoof-and-Mouth Disease

Hoof-and-Mouth Disease (HMD)/Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)

A more common name for hoof-and-mouth disease (HMD) is foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) but this name is inaccurate because only animals with cloven hoofs can contract this disease. This site is our attempt to clear up some of the misunderstandings about HMD and provide you links to other sites that we feel will be helpful to you.

What is Hoof-and-Mouth Disease (HMD)?

Hoof-and-mouth or foot-and-mouth disease is a severe, highly communicable viral disease of cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer, and other cloven–hoofed ruminants. Symptoms of FMD include blisters around the mouth or on the feet, excessive drooling, reduced appetite, and lameness. Animals may attempt to walk on their knees. The disease itself is characterized by fever and blister-like lesions followed by erosions on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the hooves. Many animals recover, but the disease leaves them debilitated. It causes severe losses in production of meat and milk. Because it spreads widely and rapidly and because it has grave economic and clinical consequences, FMD is one of the animal diseases that livestock owners dread most. The U.S. has been free of FMD since 1929.

Frequently Ask Questions about Hoof-and-Mouth Disease

FACT SHEETS ABOUT FOOT-AND-MOUTH DISEASE

FMD Power Point Presentation, Dr. Larry Firkins, U of I CVM
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/fmd/ppt.html
Overview of Hoof and Mouth Disease (HMD) by Gavin Meerdink and other Extension veterinarians at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine
http://www.traill.uiuc.edu/dairynet/paperDisplay.cfm?DynaBizInfoID=933
Hoof and Mouth Disease by Dr. Richard Wallace
http://www.traill.uiuc.edu/dairynet/paperDisplay.cfm?DynaBizInfoID=93

FACT SHEETS ABOUT TRAVELING TO AND FROM COUNTRIES WITH FMD

Precautions Against Hoof and Mouth Disease, Dr. Gavin Meerdink, U of I CVM
http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/editor/hmd.html

	If you have any questions or comments please contact us at Illinois-TRAILL@uiuc.edu

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