It is a highly infectious viral disease that may even be transmitted through dust particles in the air and can prove fatal in pigs, cattle sheep and goats. Infected animals' hooves and mouths become blistered causing lameness, increased salivation and loss of appetite. They rapidly lose weight and produce less milk. Most animals could recover from the virus although it might leave them weak and lame. There is a vaccine available which is rarely used in the European Union, but widely used in some other parts of the world.
Vaccination is ruled out mainly for commercial reasons.
Vets say vaccinated animals, although free of symptoms, can carry the virus and pass it on to other animals. As a result countries considered free of the disease refuse to import vaccinated livestock. Another argument against vaccination is that blood tests to distinguish animals which have received vaccines from animals which have contracted the disease are not recognised internationally. Vaccination might be considered in some parts of the EU if other measures fail to control the epidemic. The most recent outbreak in Britain was in 1981 on the Isle of Wight - when 200 cattle and 369 pigs were destroyed.