FOOT
AND MOUTH DISEASES – SCI & TECH
News:
FMD disease affects 60
per cent milch cattle in Pilibhit
What's
in the news?
●
Around 60% of dairy cattle in the Pilibhit
district of Uttar Pradesh have been impacted by foot-and-mouth disease (FMD).
Foot-and-Mouth
Disease
●
Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral illness
primarily affecting livestock, including cattle,
swine, sheep, goats, and other cloven-hoofed ruminants.
●
Intensively reared livestock breeds are
more vulnerable to FMD compared to traditional breeds.
Backdrop
of FMD Virus:
●
It is distinct from hand, foot, and mouth
disease, a common childhood illness caused by a different virus.
●
The virus responsible for FMD belongs to
the aphthovirus family within the
Picornaviridae family.
●
Seven
strains (A, O, C, SAT1, SAT2, SAT3, and Asia1) are endemic in
various countries globally.
●
Immunity to one strain does not confer
protection against other strains or subtypes.
Symptoms:
●
Symptoms of FMD include fever and blister-like sores on the
tongue, lips, mouth, teats, and between the hooves.
Concern:
●
FMD is categorized as a transboundary animal disease (TAD), significantly
impacting livestock production and disrupting regional and international trade
of animals and animal products.
●
Although rarely fatal in adult animals,
FMD often results in high mortality rates among young animals.
●
The disease leads to significant
production losses, with affected animals frequently experiencing debilitation
and weakness post-recovery.
Official
Status Recognition:
●
FMD was the first disease to receive
official status recognition from the World
Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).