Time Is Critical When FMD Is Suspected
Foot-and-Mouth Disease spreads faster than almost any other livestock disease. If you suspect an animal on your property is showing signs of FMD — blisters on feet or mouth, sudden lameness, excessive drooling — acting within hours, not days, can mean the difference between a contained incident and a regional crisis. This guide outlines the immediate actions every farmer should know.
Step 1: Stop All Animal and People Movement Immediately
The moment FMD is suspected, implement a farm standstill:
- Do not move any animals on or off the property.
- Prevent farm workers from leaving and travelling to other livestock properties.
- Stop all vehicles, equipment, and material from leaving the farm.
- Isolate the suspect animal(s) from the rest of the herd where possible.
This is the single most important action you can take to prevent spread before authorities arrive.
Step 2: Contact Your Veterinarian and Report to Authorities
FMD is a notifiable disease in virtually every country. You are legally required to report a suspected case to your national or regional animal health authority. Do not wait for a confirmed diagnosis — report the suspicion immediately.
- Call your private veterinarian to attend as soon as possible.
- Simultaneously contact your national animal health emergency hotline or local government veterinary office.
- Provide your location, the number of animals affected, the species involved, and the symptoms you have observed.
- Do not attempt to self-diagnose or treat the animals — leave clinical assessment to the attending veterinarian.
Step 3: Implement Quarantine Protocols
While waiting for veterinary and official response:
- Restrict access to animal housing areas to essential personnel only.
- Set up disinfection points (footbaths, wheel washes) at all entry and exit points.
- Keep detailed records of all people who have been in contact with the animals in recent days.
- Document the location and condition of all livestock on the property.
Step 4: Cooperate Fully With Official Investigators
Government veterinary teams will typically establish an Infected Zone and Surveillance Zone around the confirmed outbreak. In these zones:
- Movement of animals, animal products, and potentially contaminated materials will be controlled or prohibited.
- Tracing of animal movements (in and out) over recent weeks will be conducted.
- Nearby farms will be inspected and tested.
- Emergency vaccination campaigns may be deployed in buffer zones.
Cooperating fully and providing accurate information about recent animal movements, visitors, and purchased animals is essential for effective trace-back and trace-forward investigations.
Step 5: Understand Stamping Out vs. Vaccination Policies
Different countries use different outbreak response strategies. Two primary approaches exist:
| Strategy | Description | Used In |
|---|---|---|
| Stamping Out | Culling of all susceptible animals on infected premises to eliminate the virus | FMD-free countries (e.g., UK, Australia, USA) |
| Vaccination + Stamping Out | Emergency ring vaccination to create buffer zones, combined with culling of infected animals | Countries facing large or fast-moving outbreaks |
| Suppressive Vaccination | Ongoing vaccination to reduce disease burden without eradication | Endemic countries in Africa, Asia |
Step 6: Cleaning, Disinfection, and Recovery
After an outbreak is resolved on your premises, thorough decontamination is required before restocking:
- Remove all organic material (manure, bedding, feed waste) before disinfecting.
- Apply approved disinfectants — citric acid (0.2%), sodium hydroxide (2%), or sodium carbonate (4%) are effective against FMDV.
- Leave premises empty for an official standstill period before restocking with tested, healthy animals.
Recovery can take months. Engaging with farmer support services and animal health authorities early helps manage both the biological and financial recovery process.