A - The disease causes fever (high temperature) followed by the appearance blisters, mostly affecting the mouth and feet, although some animals, especially the young, can show few symptoms.

It is rare for the disease to be fatal and affected animals can recover from the disease naturally, within two or three weeks, although the very young, the very old or animals whose immune system is compromised/affected by some other illness or injury may die. Affected animals can lose their condition and suffer from secondary bacterial infections and other potential effects which have included sterility, lameness and chronic heart disease but these are more unlikely in developed countries where if they were allowed to be used, modern veterinary treatments are available.

The disease cannot be cured but any bacterially infected lesions could be treated with antibiotics, etc. and the animals could recover and go on to lead healthy and productive lives. Lactating animals that become infected may lose their milk production as the body tries to retain moisture when suffering a heightened temperature. It is well known that all mammals can lose milk production when they have a fever. However, this may not necessarily compromise future lactations as is often believed. As is also well known, Animals have recovered from FMD and gone on to rear healthy calves and win the top prizes at Agricultural Shows as long ago as the early 19th century, long before the vaccine was invented.

Affected animals can lose their condition and can suffer from secondary bacterial infections, which, if they were allowed to be treated with antibiotics, could recover. Other potential effects include sterility, lameness and chronic heart disease.

A - In the same way as all types of virus are contracted.

Animals can pick up the virus either by direct contact with an infected animal or contact with something else, which has been contaminated by an infected animal. It can also be spread from an infected carcase including or the air, depending on climate, wind, etc. when natural and man made barriers have to be taken into consideration.

There have been cases of the disease linked to imports of infected meat and meat products. Movements of animals, people and vehicles can also assist the spread of the disease.

Therefore Trucks, lorries, market places, and loading ramps need to be disinfected, and the wheels of passing vehicles can pick up the virus from contaminated roads

The virus can survive in warm damp conditions but is killed when exposed to sunlight or citric acid.

A - It can do, but this is very rare, as the virus prefers animals but it has been known cross the species barrier to humans.The symptoms in humans are similar to flu with some blisters.

The known cases in humans have been mild with a natural recovery and no medical treatment other than care and compassion is needed.

The last human case in the UK was in 1966.

There is also a condition called Hand, Foot and Mouth disease that affects humans, but it is unrelated to the Foot and Mouth Disease that affects animals.

A - There is a very efficacious vaccine available for FMD protection.

The vaccine will halt the disease and can be administered by farmers with one injection and then booster injections every year to maintain immunity.

FMD Vaccine is regularly used in other parts of the world where the disease is endemic and successfully controls the disease, as was demonstrated in 2001 in Uraguay.

However, meat from vaccinated or infected livestock poses no risk to humans.

We regularly import and consume vaccinated meat from other countries (South America) and have done so for many years

A - We don't use vaccination in the UK because legislation is in place to preserve our FMD Free Status and has nothing to do with animal welfare.

However, it would be possible to ring vaccinate in a control zone as the EU has said it would give us permission to do so if the Government decides it would prefer to vaccinate in any outbreak of the disease.

Many farmers who understand all the facts would like to protect their livestock with vaccination. Unfortunately, there are also others who have always believed what they have been told, often long ago, and imagine it still holds true today.

Among these erroneous legends are -

1. That a vaccinated animal can shed the virus and cause further infection.

This is not true and vaccinated animals have never been known to cause infection, although they can shed virus, it is never enough to infect.

2. That it is not possible to tell a vaccinated animal from an infected animal.

This is not true. There are now tests that can tell the difference.

3. Vaccination would be far too expensive.

This is not true, the vaccine is not expensive and at present day prices would be affordable and the costs absorbable by most farmers. It is also worth remembering that the more vaccine that is required the cheaper it will become.

A - Once a case of foot-and-mouth is suspected in the UK, movement restrictions affecting livestock are put in place to help contain the disease.

Officials set up a 3km. protection zone and a surveillance zone with a minimum radius of 10km. and in the protection zone, the movement of animals, animal products, feed and bedding are prohibited, unless a special licence is obtained.

A ban on movement across a wider area may also be introduced, and public rights of way could be closed to prevent the disease spreading.

In both the protection and surveillance zones, there will be increased levels of bio-security on farms, with disinfectant used on footwear, clothing and vehicles.

Infected and other susceptible animals on the farm who may be suffering from the disease, or recovered from it or even healthy are then valued, slaughtered and then incinerated.

Export health certificates for animals and animal products will be withdrawn.

The European Commission could ban all British milk, meat and livestock exports until the disease is contained.

International restrictions could be imposed on exports to countries outside the EU by the international veterinary organisation, the OIE.

While a national movement ban is in place, farmers will also not be able to take animals to slaughter or market.

A – Changes to the legislation

1. The Government and other EU Countries could change the legislation and put the welfare of animals as the first priority when deciding the law.

2. They could also change the legislation and make FMD vaccine available to farmers to protect their livestock themselves. Farmers who choose not to vaccinate would run the risk of being charged with an offence by failing to protect their livestock if they became infected. EU and bring UK legislation in line with the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

1. There would be no more slaughter of healthy animals.
2. The taxpayer would no longer have to bear the costs incurred by the present policy.

3. The farmers would be responsible for the welfare of their own stock

1. The farmers would not have trade restrictions imposed and would be free to sell their livestock and meat products wherever they chose to.
2. If the majority of the susceptible livestock population were vaccinated, the virus would have nowhere to live and would die out. As has happened with polio, in human beings in many parts of the world, including the UK.