This embargo should extend to all material that may come into contact with infected livestock such as bedding, feeds, handling equipment and vehicles used to move susceptible animals. Food waste from ships and aircraft, particularly meat scraps and undercooked processed meats can carry the virus. These waste products should not be fed to swine. Personal clothing can carry the virus from endemic area to susceptible livestock. Semen from an infected bull can infect a cow bred using that semen.
Physical barriers can be important.
The Darien Gap is a tract of impassable land between Colombia and Panama and acts as a physical barrier to prevent the spread of FMD from South America to Central America. An outbreak of FMD in the United States would have huge economic costs. Our control program would require a stop of all livestock movement and slaughter all infected and exposed animals. Because of the number of animals moving daily, it may be difficult to isolate an outbreak. A large scale outbreak could halt all livestock movement for several weeks.