In addition, the USDA recommends that horses should not have direct or indirect contact with domestic or wild ruminants or swine for a minimum of five days from the day they entered the USDA quarantine facility. Because the USDA did not place any pre-embarkation requirements on working dogs such as hunting and herding dogs from known FMD countries, Virginia will continue to require that a prior entry permit must be obtained from the Office of the State Veterinarian. This procedure has been adopted as an emergency measure and shall be effective until it is determined that FMD is no longer a threat to the Commonwealth of Virginia. Foot and mouth disease is a viral disease that affects cloven-hooved animals including cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and deer. It does not affect humans.
Diseased animals run fevers, lose their appetites, stop producing milk and become very lame.
Foot and mouth disease can cause death in affected animals, especially newborns. It is highly contagious and because there are several strains of the virus as well as many sub-types, vaccines are not considered an effective remedy. USDA has established a toll-free telephone center to respond to questions from the public, industry and media about foot and mouth disease. All rights reserved.