That's why the disease is getting so much attention from animal health officials around the world, according to veterinarian Scott Haskell of the University of Minnesota Extension Service. The disease causes fever and blisters on the muzzle, teats and feet of infected animals, and can cause death in young animals.
Clinical signs are more severe in dairy cattle and swine than in sheep and goats.
However, the disease is present in many countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. The virus is easily killed in the environment. However, it will survive for a considerable time in animal proteins such as meat and milk. Animals pick up the disease through direct contact with the virus. Infection usually begins and builds up in the respiratory tract.