The killer FMD: Apthovirus

Aug 06: The Foot and Mouth disease has again killed hundreds of cattle in Surray where the outbreak has been confirmed not because of the killer strain but because of the protective measures taken.

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The 2001 outbreak in Britain resulted in slaughter of many animals and loss of millions of revenues. But still there is a chaos in scientific community regarding the eradication of this disease.

Foot and Mouth disease is highly contagious and is known to cause fatal viral disease in cattle, dog, deer, goat, sheep etc.Infection with Foot and Mouth Disease tends to occur locally. The virus is passed on to the susceptible animal through direct contact with the infected animal.

The disease is caused by Apthovirus, the infected animal shows excessive secretion of foamy saliva, blisters on the feet, weight loss and high fever.

Vaccination is strain specific and only provides temporary immunity. Wide variation of virus is due to its reproducing nature as it s genetic makeup changes by integrating hosts gene during replication.

Human can be infected with Foot and Mouth disease by coming in contact with the infected animal. Though it’s very rare, the symptoms include fever, vomiting and eruption of blisters on the skin.

Control measure includes quarantine and destruction of infected animal. Banning the export of meat and other byproducts to the countries is also a precautionary measure.

From time to time this fatal disease has serve as a threat to agricultural industries as millions of cattle are slaughter. Tourism and other industry too get affected due to huge loss of revenue.