Currently, FMD is endemic in many regions of Asia, South America and Africa. In the last decade, outbreaks of the disease have occurred in several countries, including Greece, Taiwan, Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Japan and very recently, the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland. Direct losses have been severe due to the killing of affected and in-contact animals although indirect losses have been even greater through the imposition of trade embargoes. In general, clinical signs are most severe in cattle and swine. Sheep and goats often develop subclinical infection.
Wild animals can have severe disease or be affected subclinically.
Infected animals usually recover. FMD is not a killing disease. The incubation period, that is, the time from infection to the first sign of clinical disease, is 2-8 days. Pathogenesis Epidemiology FMD is a highly contagious disease that infects all cloven hoofed animals. It spreads rapidly through susceptible populations.