Bulletin of the IDF N° 437/ 2009: Effects of Foot-and-Mouth Disease on the Dairy Industry

Publication description

Position paper outlining the effects that an outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease, a highly infectious viral disease of cloven hoofed livestock, can have on the dairy industry in any country in the world. In some countries the dairy industries are complex and integrated, as most of the milk or milk products produced are destined for international trade, whereas in other countries most of the milk and milk products produced are for local consumption. There are three key issues: FMD is highly infectious and spreads very rapidly through a population of susceptible dairy animals. An outbreak will result in severe economic consequences to dairy producers and processors and the country as a whole; Control measures are aimed at preventing spread to livestock as FMD is not a public health issue for human consumers of milk and milk products.

Keywords: Animal, Breeding, Contagion, Disease, FMD, Foot-and-Mouth, Infection, Infectious, Livestock, Outbreak, Prevention, Vaccination