Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) remains a significant threat to the UK, despite the country being officially free from the disease since the last outbreak in 2007. Official Veterinarians working in import controls and for the Food Standards Agency play a crucial role in maintaining this disease-free status.

In this article, our National Technical Lead for Food Safety and Animal Welfare, Ester Benguerel, explains how to detect FMD and prevent the spread of the disease.

Foot and Mouth Disease is one of the most serious threats to livestock health, known for its rapid spread and devastating economic impacts. Affecting cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, FMD is highly contagious, causing fever and blister-like lesions, particularly around the mouth and hooves.

FMD is caused by a virus of the genus Aphthovirus and is known for its extreme transmissibility. This virus can spread through direct animal contact, contaminated vehicles or equipment, airborne particles (especially in cooler, humid conditions), and even by human movement between farms or slaughterhouses.

The main symptoms include fever and lethargy; blisters and ulceration in the mouth and/or on the hooves; lameness affecting multiple animals in a herd; salivation and a reluctance to eat.

In Cattle this manifests itself in:

  • High fever (this is often the first observable indication)
  • Blisters on the tongue, lips, gums, nostrils, udders and between the hooves
  • Excessive salivation
  • Lameness or reluctance to move due to painful lesions on the feet
  • Loss of appetite and weight loss

In Pigs it is evident through:

  • Sudden lameness, often severe
  • Blisters on the snout, in the mouth, and especially on the feet on the heels and coronary bands
  • Reluctance to walk or stand
  • High-pitched squealing due to pain

In sheep and goats, it is often milder or subclinical, making detection harder. This means the disease is more likely to be overlooked, therefore posing a hidden risk of transmission. However, these animals may show lameness, mild fever, or lesions on the feet or in the mouth.

The disease’s control and eradication requires immediate action due to the potential risk of it spreading across borders.

While the UK has been officially free from FMD since the last outbreak in 2007, the threat remains real and persistent, due to the proximity to European countries where FMD has been detected.

E&J Official Veterinarians (OV) working at Border Control Posts carry out rigorous import controls and inspections, monitoring the movement of animals and animal products. There is always a potential pathway for the virus to enter the UK, particularly through illegal meat products brought from countries where FMD is present. Cross-border cooperation and information sharing with international veterinary authorities is also vital.

OVs play a frontline role in the nation’s biosecurity. Our responsibilities are wide-ranging and critical in preventing the entry and spread of diseases like FMD.

OVs key duties include:

  • Ante-mortem inspection: Ensuring animals are healthy and show no signs of FMD or other notifiable diseases before slaughter.
  • Post-mortem inspection: Identifying any signs of disease that may not have been apparent earlier.
  • Surveillance and Reporting: Remaining vigilant for unusual symptoms and reporting any suspected cases of notifiable diseases immediately.
  • Monitoring compliance with biosecurity protocols and ensuring that conditions related to Exotic Disease designations are strictly followed.
  • Training and Awareness: Educating slaughterhouse staff on signs of disease and appropriate responses to suspected cases.

Our work is essential in early detection and rapid response in the event of an outbreak.

E&J Official Veterinarians are indispensable to the UK’s biosecurity, acting as the frontline defenders against infectious threats such as FMD.

The price of complacency could be high. With dedicated professionals and a strong veterinary infrastructure, the UK remains well-positioned to defend its borders against this and other infectious threats.

You can find out more about the Official Controls we provide, here.