Although cloven-hoofed animals usually do not die from FMD infection, they suffer a severe illness that is economically devastating to their owners. The animals develop high fevers, stop eating, give less milk, become lame and cannot walk without pain.
Blisters form on the feet, mouth, nose, and teats which then burst, leaving painful ulcers.
The hooves of infected pigs may drop off and young piglets often die. FMD broke out in Britain in February 2001. The virus spread rapidly in country and then moved to Ireland, France and The Netherlands. The virus is extremely contagious and spreads quickly unless it is contained. Stopping the spread of FMD usually requires quarantining infected farms followed by slaughtering and burning or burial of all susceptible animals.