In addition to England, where the outbreak started, other affected countries now include Scotland, Wales, France, and the Netherlands, with possible cases in Germany, Spain and Italy. The epidemic is already beginning to cause significant social and economic hardship. Humans infection is extremely rare, but can occur in association with direct contact with infected tissue. SAT-3, each contain many subtypes. The current strain has been named the Pan Asian variety.
Infected animals develop lesions and sores on hooves, mouth and other areas.
It takes two to three weeks to clear foot and mouth from an area once the disease is quarantined. Outbreaks of BSE in England, Ireland and continental Europe have been traced to animal feed containing infected animal parts. Outbreaks of a related disease in humans, CJD, led researchers to believe consumption of infected beef could put humans at risk. The BSE outbreak had already forced British and other farmers to slaughter herds of cattle. FMD is one of the most contagious of all animal diseases.