The only land masses in the world where FMD is not present are North America, Central America, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan. The disease gets its name from the clinical signs of infection. Animals develop blister-like lesions followed by erosions on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats and between the hooves. Hogs may lose their hooves. Cattle, especially, begin to produce a lot of saliva.
All animals develop fevers.
In cows, there is a dramatic drop in milk production. Animal conception rates may become low. The clinical signs of the disease are similar to those of three other vesicular diseases in livestock that we are constantly on the watch for. FMD is caused by a virus. Much like the common cold in humans, it is spread easily and rapidly to animals through contact with other animals and people, by breathing contaminated air, by eating contaminated food, and by contact with materials that are already contaminated with the virus, including clothes, shoes, and farm machinery.