Foot-and-Mouth Disease: What it is, Transmission, and Risks

An emergency meeting was convened by the Veterinary Services following the detection of a case of foot-and-mouth disease in a cattle farm in the Livadia area of Larnaca province. Foot-and-mouth disease is a viral disease that primarily affects cloven-hoofed animals.

The disease affects animals used for meat and milk production, such as cattle, sheep, and pigs, causing serious economic impacts due to the high transmissibility of the virus. The virus can survive in the environment for up to a month.

Symptoms include common cold symptoms, canker sores, and ulcers on the soles, palms, and oral cavity. Transmission occurs through saliva, feces, respiration, and skin secretions. Incubation lasts 2-6 days, and the rash lasts 7-10 days. There is no specific treatment.

Foot-and-mouth disease is fatal in young animals, but mortality is low in adults. In cattle, it causes fever, anorexia, drooling, and lameness. In sheep and goats, the disease is mild, while in pigs, it causes reluctance to stand and lameness.

Transmission to humans is rare but possible through contaminated animal products. In humans, coxsackie viruses cause a similar disease. Cases of human infection with the foot-and-mouth disease virus have been isolated, mainly from the aphthovirus O.

Treatment includes regionalization, control of trade and animal movement, identification and labeling of products, and special certification. Vaccination is prohibited except in emergencies. There are various vaccination strategies, such as emergency, protective, and suppressive vaccination.