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Update on Veterinary Services’
Response to Foot-and-Mouth Disease Around the World
Dr. Alfonso Torres
Deputy Administrator, Veterinary Services
USDA, APHIS
Vesicular Diseases
- Viral diseases manifested by lameness, vesicular
lesions and, subsequently, erosions of the epithelium of the mouth,
nares, muzzle, feet, and teats.
- Vesicular diseases are clinically
indistinguishable from each other.
- Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD)
- Vesicular Stomatitis (VS)
- Swine Vesicular Disease (SVD)
- Vesicular Exanthema of Swine (VES)
Foot-and-Mouth Disease
- Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is an extremely
contagious, viral disease of domestic cloven-hoofed and many wild
animals, characterized by fever, vesicular lesions and, subsequent
erosions of the epithelium of the mouth, tongue, nares, muzzle, feet,
and teats.
FMD Virus Serotypes
- 7 Types (with > 60 Subtypes)
- A (A5, A24, etc)
- O (O1, etc)
- C (C3, etc)
- SAT-1
- SAT-2
- SAT-3
- Asia-1
USDA preventive actions against FMD
1. Activities abroad
- Intelligence gathering
- OIE reports & Web Information
- Site visits
- Other sources
- Cooperative programs
- OIE Regional FMD Commissions
- FMD regional eradication programs
- USDA direct assistance programs
- APHIS, IS Agricultural Attachés
2. FMD virus
restrictions
- Banned from the U.S. mainland since 1929
- Congressional law of 1948 restricting its use
to an island setting
- Creation of the Plum Island Animal Disease
Center in 1954
- Strict requirements for importation of samples
containing FMD virus
3. Import restrictions
- Very restrictive conditions for live animals
and fresh products
- Creation of the Harry S. Truman Animal Import
Center (now closed)
- Implementation of SPS Agreement changed our
"zero" risk approach to one of risk assessments for fresh
beef
4. Port activities
- Passenger inspection program
- Cargo inspection program
- Decontamination of foreign garbage
- Education & awareness activities
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5. Swine garbage
feeding program
- 33 States have programs
- Regulated by State & Federal personnel
6. Domestic
surveillance
- Vesicular disease investigations
- FSIS slaughter inspections
- Producer awareness
Other FMD Prevention Activities
- Strong animal health infrastructure
- Partnership between Federal, State and
Livestock Industries
- Excellent laboratory network and training
- Reportable disease & prompt diagnosis
- Ability to respond rapidly and effectively
Control and Eradication of FMD
- Quarantine, stop movement of animals and
products
- Disinfection of vehicles and personnel
- Slaughter of infected and contact animals
- Destruction of infected carcasses
- Ring / Strategic vaccination
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