The disease is extremely contagious and spreads easily among cloven-hoofed animals such as cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and deer. The disease is characterized by fever and blister-like lesions followed by erosions on the tongue and lips, in the mouth, on the teats, and between the hooves. Discourage close contact or handling of animals by foreign visitors Producers can support NDA efforts against FMD by watching for excessive salivating, lameness, and other signs of the disease in their herd and immediately reporting any unusual or suspicious signs of disease to their veterinarian. Nebraska Department of Agriculture Director Merlyn Carlson said while the disease is primarily a European crisis right now, safeguards are recommended for all travels. We have to be cautious on a global level, Carlson said.
Every precaution is important to ensure that what has happened in Europe won t happen here.