Contaminated facilities and vehicles are used to hold and move susceptible animals. Meat or animal products infected with the virus or raw or improperly cooked food waste containing infected meat or animal products is fed to susceptible animals. Susceptible animals are exposed to contaminated materials such as hay, feed, water, semen or biologics. Foot and Mouth Disease is an extremely serious livestock illness and it is one of the most contagious of animal diseases. The disease also causes severe production losses in domestic livestock.
Canadian animals are highly susceptible.
If an outbreak occurred, the virus could spread rapidly to all parts of the country through routine livestock movements. Unless detected early and eradicated immediately, losses could reach billions of dollars in the first year. Wildlife such as deer, elk and bison could become infected and remain a reservoir for the virus. In order to prevent spread of any disease, all farm visitors should follow sound biosecurity measures such as washing and disinfecting all personal effects and equipment used on any other farms that have accompanied them. It is particularly important to clean and disinfect footwear or provide visitors with footwear.